Really want to get the driver/ passenger windows tinted and have them match the tint of the back/ stock tint.

Might consider going a bit darker all around, but the NY Metro area has some tough laws regarding tinting and if they can look in with a flashlight.

Any suggestions at what level tint would be best?

Thanks!

I just got my windows tinted this morning. UT says the front tint can't be darker than 50%. At first I thought, "Damn, that's lame." but I'm pleasantly surprised. I'd say the new front tint is just a hair lighter than the (factory) tint that's on the back. If you wanted to match it up perfectly, I'd say somewhere around 40-45% would nail it.

Good luck!

http://www.pbase.com/derk2000/image/39942747.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/derk2000/image/39942723.jpg



Sorry about that glare on the first pic. :doh:

I have 27% on the front (SC legal limit) and you can clearly see that it's still lighter than the factory. I'd estimate the factory is probably around 15% but I'm no expert. Mr. windowtint might now exactly what it is.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/204/204797/folders/147601/1431937Cars028.jpg

a couple days after getting my car i tinted my front driver and passenger windows 20% to match the back factory tint... in hawaii da "legal" percent is 35% but yah... mine is 20... u can see inside but its a litto difficult... pretty soon i'm goin to get 5% all around...

Factory is 19-20%. trust me. (my name is??)

I'm getting ready to do the front windshield at like 35% and then do 15% rest of the way around.

Front windsheild? why? That will suck at night.

I get people all the time that SWEAR they don't/wont drive at night. RIIIIIGGGHHHTTT..... I presume you don't drive when it rains outsid or when really dark clouds roll in, won't be working till 5 in the winter and will only operate the car on bright, cloudless sunny days? They still get a big fat 'no'. I don't need the money or the guilt when you either run someone over wearing dark colors at night or kill yourself hitting the windshield (tinted windsheilds have a greater tensile strength than reinforced concrete - ouch). The 'competition' can have the whole whopping $100 or whatever they're gonna charge extra to do the front glass.

-- ALTHOUGH, YES, it DOES look good. Just not safe or legal.

I've got no interest in doing the front windshield, but want the upfront sides to match the back and may consider going a bit darker all around.

windowtint, got a suggestion at what darkness I should go?

Thanks all!

windowtint,
I can see your point about not being able to see well when it's dark but is the whole tensile strength thing for the windshield really applicable. I mean with seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones do many people still have to worry about hitting the windshield. For those that may, would they really stand a chance of surviving if they did regardless of tint?

it is illegal to tint the front windows at all in NY but it never stopped me .just don't drive to CT .there laws are even worse period but if you want an awesome tint guy AT
Putnam window tint (845) 628 -7582 if you most i wouldn,t recommend less that twenty shade i have fifeteen and i get stopped all the time my only get out of jail free is that i have a perscription tint from my optomotrist. good luck .

NYCXB - if you want to match the back - use 20% - if you want a little darker in the rear a layer of 50% will put you at about 10-11% and a layer of 35% will put at 7%+/-, a little lighter than limo.


CHADFO - you're right, I've considered that before, but the safety feature only work if you're using them. If you're not wearing your seat belt and sitting to close to the steering wheel - an instant stop from 60mph - crumple zones and airbags aint gonna help you. But if you always - 110% of time - wear your belt - yeah, you'll probably be ok.

I got my front windows tinted to match the back. I actually think they're a little bit darker (maybe 15% or 20%) than the stock glass. I would reccomend a little bit lighter, as it's kind of hard to see street signs at night.

Factory is 19-20%. trust me. (my name is??)

I'm surprised that it comes from the factory that dark. I don't think that's legal in all 50 states...
Either way, I'm happy with my 50% tint up front. Way more than I thought I would be. :) I think 35% is as dark as I'll ever go again. I've had a few cars with 20% all around, and while it looks good, it is just plain too hard to see out at night.

NYCXB - if you want to match the back - use 20% - if you want a little darker in the rear a layer of 50% will put you at about 10-11% and a layer of 35% will put at 7%+/-, a little lighter than limo.


CHADFO - you're right, I've considered that before, but the safety feature only work if you're using them. If you're not wearing your seat belt and sitting to close to the steering wheel - an instant stop from 60mph - crumple zones and airbags aint gonna help you. But if you always - 110% of time - wear your belt - yeah, you'll probably be ok.

20% is what I thought it was.

So to increase the back darkness having them add 50% will yield an overall of 35% darkness?

no, adding 50% film darken the windows to about 10%. The higher the #, the lighter shade the film.

-- the number represents as a percentage how much visible light that falls on the glass will pass through it. The smaller the number, the darker e.g. LIMO TINT = 5%, SUPER LIGHT UV SHEILD TINT = 70,80, 90%

I see.

So I'll just make life easy and match the front to the back which should be roughly 20%.

Might consider going a bit darker all around, but the NY Metro area has some tough laws regarding tinting and if they can look in with a flashlight.

According to one site (http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html), NY state only allows 70% net on any side window, front or back. Any percent is allowed on the rear window. NYC might have more stringent laws, tho. Here in Cali, according to the site, the 70% applies just to the front windows and the rears can be tinted as dark as we want.

However, another site (http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/), says that NY allows no tinting unless the windows were originally tinted. There is a medical exception, tho. That one also says that in Cali, no tinting is allowed on the front window. The California Vehicle Code seems to support this site more.

You should probably search the NY vehicle code for the best answer.

Well I've had front windshield tint on all my previous and never had a problem seeing so I don't think it'll be a problem this time. Most of my driving was at night and I was still able to see no problem. Plus I'm going to tint the front windshield to protect the suede I've put on the dash so it'll keep its color.

You don't need dark tint to protect from UV rays. You're getting tint 'cause you want tint, not to protect your interior.

You don't need dark tint to protect from UV rays. You're getting tint 'cause you want tint, not to protect your interior.

Actually with the Florida sun I need the tint to block the rays from the dash. Otherwise I wouldn't get it on the front windshield. Let's you and I not start at it again.

Uhhh.... nope... I hear that excuse 10x a day. Tinting an entire windshield does ZERO for ADDITIONAL protection of the dash and interior. NOTHING.

The windshild already has a layer of plastic inside it that filters all the UV light out. Adding tint won't offer more protection. When you've already blocked it all... what more is there to block?

People who want tinted windshields want them becuase they want tint. I don't fault them for that - it looks good - but there is 'advantage reason' for it. Sun to bright? Wear sunglasses. To much glare? Blue Blockers. Want more privacy and a cooler LOOK - tint it.

Ah, per shaw. I like my front windshield being tinted. It cuts out the glare (I don't have to wear sunglasses anymore), and at night, cuts down on headlight glare. Plus, keeps the car cooler here in SOUTH FLORIDA.

I have no problem seeing the folks at night. And, I think my tint is just UV, so it's not that dark.

And I did not have to pay that much...All in all, I'm a happy camper.

Ah, per shaw. I like my front windshield being tinted. It cuts out the glare (I don't have to wear sunglasses anymore), and at night, cuts down on headlight glare. Plus, keeps the car cooler here in SOUTH FLORIDA.

I have no problem seeing the folks at night. And, I think my tint is just UV, so it's not that dark.

And I did not have to pay that much...All in all, I'm a happy camper.

Thank you that's exactly the reason and windowtint yes i hate to tell you it will help you're not the only one who has delt with window tint before. I've been using it to protect my dashes that I've covered and I"ve gone without it and the dash with the tint color lasts a lot longer then it did without. When you have sun the entire day almost 90% of the year the tint will help. Sucks that it hasn't for your customers but it has worked with my cars.

Ah, per shaw. I like my front windshield being tinted. It cuts out the glare (I don't have to wear sunglasses anymore), and at night, cuts down on headlight glare. Plus, keeps the car cooler here in SOUTH FLORIDA.

I have no problem seeing the folks at night. And, I think my tint is just UV, so it's not that dark.

And I did not have to pay that much...All in all, I'm a happy camper.

I've thought about getting mine done like yours. When I was getting my sunstrip put on they showed me a very light tint that is supposed to be legal but cuts out a lot of glare. The only thing that's stopped me is a series of chips that I obtained shortly after. So I'm just going to wait until I have to replace the windshield, AGAIN, to do it.

I got the front sides done in 20% down in College Park, MD and the shading is a bit off from the rear but the darkness is about the same. I was going to get the sun strip and I was told getting that would be a good way to get pulled over bc it's easy to notiice. They recommended the whole front and showed me a duramax diesel with 35% on the windshield and it looked real good. Concern was nightdriiving or driving in the rain; worse yet, driving at night in the rain. With no factory sunstrip up top, petite sun visors and a big windshield, tinting the front makes sense. With the rest of the windows at 20%, I think the front at 50% would be fine as I would get the benefit of the tint without creating a hazard.

Follow the law when it comes to tint. Its honestly not worth the trouble, court cost, and loss of wages to mess with it. I have 35% as the law in NE for the front windows and i plan on going 35%.