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Not trying to troll, just trying to start a real discussion and get people's thoughts. In my experience here in the NY metro area and suburbs, many cars being driven aggressively/rudely/dangerously have tinted windows--whether they be BMWs, Hondas, pickup trucks, SUVs, whatever. My theory is that dark tinted windows offer anonymity and encourage antisocial behavior in some people. Simply being in a car seems to offer some people a feeling of protection and boldness that leads them to do things they would never do in person or on foot--they would never cut someone off in line at the grocery store or at a concert, or push someone out of the way, but they don't think twice about cutting someone off in traffic or not waiting their turn at a 4-way stop. Tinted windows just seem to amplify this attitude of invulnerability. And if I were a police officer, I would be on edge every time I approached a vehicle with tinted windows during a traffic stop. I would assume the occupants have something to hide, whether it be a weapon, etc. Have any of you experienced this behavior? I understand tinted windows in Florida or Texas or Arizona as a necessity to keep the car interior cool, but what about cooler northern states? Do you think some people get dark tints so they can drive like jerks with a degree of immunity?
Not trying to troll, just trying to start a real discussion and get people's thoughts. In my experience here in the NY metro area and suburbs, many cars being driven aggressively/rudely/dangerously have tinted windows--whether they be BMWs, Hondas, pickup trucks, SUVs, whatever. My theory is that dark tinted windows offer anonymity and encourage antisocial behavior in some people. Simply being in a car seems to offer some people a feeling of protection and boldness that leads them to do things they would never do in person or on foot--they would never cut someone off in line at the grocery store or at a concert, or push someone out of the way, but they don't think twice about cutting someone off in traffic or not waiting their turn at a 4-way stop. Tinted windows just seem to amplify this attitude of invulnerability. And if I were a police officer, I would be on edge every time I approached a vehicle with tinted windows during a traffic stop. I would assume the occupants have something to hide, whether it be a weapon, etc. Have any of you experienced this behavior? I understand tinted windows in Florida or Texas or Arizona as a necessity to keep the car interior cool, but what about cooler northern states? Do you think some people get dark tints so they can drive like jerks with a degree of immunity?
Given I don’t live in a northern state, I can’t comment specifically on this but I do think we should add a third option into the mix which is: it is done purely for the aesthetic. Some color paints just look better with darker glass all the way around.
So...
1) anonymity to be a jerk
2) keep the interior cool
3) aesthetic
** one or a combination of them
Personally I’m 2 & 3. My GT4 is unique enough in the city I live in that being a jerk on the road would be very noticeable; zero anonymity for me.
paradocs98, I think you make some valid points. However, one does not need to go with a dark tint just to keep the interior cool...it's my understanding that there are UV blockers without tint (or much) which keep the interior cool. I will go with this option before spring.
So...
1) anonymity to be a jerk
2) keep the interior cool
3) aesthetic
** one or a combination of them
Personally I’m 2 & 3. My GT4 is unique enough in the city I live in that being a jerk on the road would be very noticeable; zero anonymity for me.
Excellent point! I feel like driving a red GT4 puts a bit of a target on me—some people just expect a driver of a brightly colored Porsche to be a jerk. I’m typically a very courteous driver anyway, taking a “pay it forward” attitude, but I feel even more responsibility to behave when in such an obvious car.
Originally Posted by 9elheven
paradocs98, I think you make some valid points. However, one does not need to go with a dark tint just to keep the interior cool...it's my understanding that there are UV blockers without tint (or much) which keep the interior cool. I will go with this option before spring.
Poor and rude drivers are everywhere, regardless of tinted windows.
Totally, I look out more for the condition of the other cars than tint. In the Philippines we used to have limo tint on everything including the front windshield which was trippy at night. It was partly for the heat and partly for our own safety/security.
I like a medium tint on all my cars for aesthetics and comfort. No tint is like going out without sunglasses...
Mine are medium tinted within legal levels due to the heat down here in Georgia, and so far my 2014 Cayman hasn't suffered from the dreaded door panel warping that many have experienced. My tint appears darker from a distance than it really is because my car is yellow, but you can easily see me or what I'm doing the through the glass once near the car.
To your point regarding behaving badly......I live in downtown Atlanta and have for years, and it seems the thing to do here is to illegally limo tint so that you use the HOV lanes as your own private expressway. I can sit in the left lane in stopped traffic and observe more cars in my side view mirror with solo drivers approaching my left side than cars that should be in the lane. Its sort of a game to pass the time for me and some days the ratio is 12:1. The only way to see them is through the front windshield, so the Police have started doing stings on motorcycles where they can park on the left median in order to see through the front glass as they approach, or parked at the top of HOV exit lanes and trap them. Its become so much of problem that the HOV lanes are no better most times than any other lane and are completely gridlocked.
I have tints on my truck and my wife’s car because it definitely makes the brutal summer heat more manageable. However, I prefer the look of no tints. So I go sans tint on my sports cars. I love the way my interior with carbon buckets and full leather looks. So why not share it with all ?
I’ve heard more than a few people make the comment “I like the privacy” when justifying why they want really dark tint. I think 30% light transmission is the maximum legal darkness in many states but obviously many people ignore that, especially here in Texas. I could care less about privacy and wonder why anyone driving on public roads would, unless they feel uncomfortable about the way they look or someone is hunting for them .
On all my vehicles, I have 35% nano-ceramic IR blocking tint on the windows and “clear” nano-ceramic IR blocking film on the inside of the windshield.
I live further North, and most cars with tints seem to be driving more sedately than others, like they don't want to be seen aor draw any attention.
My weekly driver has roll up screens in the back, where the equivalent tint would be illegal.
Poor and rude drivers are everywhere, regardless of tinted windows.
Yup.
Both of my daily drivers (Jeep & 991) are heavily tinted. This was done mostly for aesthetic reasons (didn't tint my Cayman because I don't trust anyone to do a good enough job to satisfy my OCD ).
In addition, I tint any vehicle my wife will drive. This is mostly because she wears a headscarf for religious reasons, and I don't want some nutcase harassing her on the road (unfortunately, this has happened in the past).
Not trying to troll, just trying to start a real discussion and get people's thoughts. In my experience here in the NY metro area and suburbs, many cars being driven aggressively/rudely/dangerously have tinted windows--whether they be BMWs, Hondas, pickup trucks, SUVs, whatever. My theory is that dark tinted windows offer anonymity and encourage antisocial behavior in some people. Simply being in a car seems to offer some people a feeling of protection and boldness that leads them to do things they would never do in person or on foot--they would never cut someone off in line at the grocery store or at a concert, or push someone out of the way, but they don't think twice about cutting someone off in traffic or not waiting their turn at a 4-way stop. Tinted windows just seem to amplify this attitude of invulnerability. And if I were a police officer, I would be on edge every time I approached a vehicle with tinted windows during a traffic stop. I would assume the occupants have something to hide, whether it be a weapon, etc. Have any of you experienced this behavior? I understand tinted windows in Florida or Texas or Arizona as a necessity to keep the car interior cool, but what about cooler northern states? Do you think some people get dark tints so they can drive like jerks with a degree of immunity?
Poor and rude drivers are everywhere, regardless of tinted windows.
Absolutely. I swear there are so many people on the roads who shouldn't be.
Originally Posted by ICNU
To your point regarding behaving badly......I live in downtown Atlanta and have for years, and it seems the thing to do here is to illegally limo tint so that you use the HOV lanes as your own private expressway. I can sit in the left lane in stopped traffic and observe more cars in my side view mirror with solo drivers approaching my left side than cars that should be in the lane. Its sort of a game to pass the time for me and some days the ratio is 12:1. The only way to see them is through the front windshield, so the Police have started doing stings on motorcycles where they can park on the left median in order to see through the front glass as they approach, or parked at the top of HOV exit lanes and trap them. Its become so much of problem that the HOV lanes are no better most times than any other lane and are completely gridlocked.
That is fantastic. Kind of reminds me of how people get the light-warping license plate covers to prevent red light cameras from catching them when they run red lights, or go through a gateless toll system without an EZ-Pass, etc.
Originally Posted by Five12Free
I have tints on my truck and my wife’s car because it definitely makes the brutal summer heat more manageable. However, I prefer the look of no tints. So I go sans tint on my sports cars. I love the way my interior with carbon buckets and full leather looks. So why not share it with all ?
Tints in hot summer climates definitely understandable. And agreed re. keeping it clear on your sportscar, especially one that gets tracked regularly--the idea should be increasing your field of vision and situational awareness, not decreasing it.
Originally Posted by okie981
I’ve heard more than a few people make the comment “I like the privacy” when justifying why they want really dark tint. I think 30% light transmission is the maximum legal darkness in many states but obviously many people ignore that, especially here in Texas. I could care less about privacy and wonder why anyone driving on public roads would, unless they feel uncomfortable about the way they look or someone is hunting for them .
On all my vehicles, I have 35% nano-ceramic IR blocking tint on the windows and “clear” nano-ceramic IR blocking film on the inside of the windshield.
The clear IR blocking film sounds like a smart idea.
Originally Posted by d00d
I live further North, and most cars with tints seem to be driving more sedately than others, like they don't want to be seen aor draw any attention.
My weekly driver has roll up screens in the back, where the equivalent tint would be illegal.
They may be Kennedys...
May very well be a regional thing. Heavy tints in the NY suburbs on a Nissan Maxima or Honda or BMW or SUV typically equates to a 20 year-old guy driving like he's filming a take for The Fast and the Furious.
Originally Posted by JAhmed
Yup.
In addition, I tint any vehicle my wife will drive. This is mostly because she wears a headscarf for religious reasons, and I don't want some nutcase harassing her on the road (unfortunately, this has happened in the past).
That's a real concern, and certainly understandable.
my dealer made me remove the tint on my GT3 last year to pass NYS inspection
I had it put on, not for anonymity (don't have it on my GT4 nor 458), but to complete the black/yellow theme (it was 50% I think)
Nice pic. Just read the NY DMV link--that's fantastic. Expect a lot of people to coincidentally start developing porphyria or extreme photosensitivity...
Nice pic. Just read the NY DMV link--that's fantastic. Expect a lot of people to coincidentally start developing porphyria or extreme photosensitivity...
Not quite that simple anymore, apparently. As a physician, many used to ask me for RXs in order to have tints. It seems that NYS is wise to this kinda thing now - as far as I know, you need documentation specifically from Optho or Derm to get this kind of waiver to be accepted.
my dealer made me remove the tint on my GT3 last year to pass NYS inspection
I had it put on, not for anonymity (don't have it on my GT4 nor 458), but to complete the black/yellow theme (it was 50% I think)
or register your car in a Red state without all the ridiculous over regulation and higher taxes of a heavily blue state like NY or CA.
I live in CA most of the time, but registered my GT3 in a nearby Red state which dramatically reduced my taxes, allows me to only have a rear plate, and no inspection needed for registration. I love SoCal weather and SoCal ladies, but not the ridiculous overregulation and excessive taxes of this near socialist state.
12-30-2018, 03:26 PM
Window tints
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