Whats up everyone,

On my tacoma I have 15% tint all around and I like it alot but my friend has 5% on his mazda3 and it is extremely dark. I would like the 5% but I want to be able to see out at night like I do with my 15%. What I was thinking about doing on my xB was 5% on all of the windows except the driver/passenger front and the rear hatch window. On these windows I will do 15% instead so I can still see at night. Do you think this will look totally off? Especially if you were looking at one of the rear corners and saw the difference in color from the back to the side?

 

check your state laws. it may just determine what you get, providing you care. I'm from oregon and around here (corvallis, eugene), they have times when they really hit hard on the window tint. I believe they put 35% on my driver and passenger windows which look fine. I'd rather have a little darker, but my biggest concerns where to be able to pick my nose without being stared at.

 

Don't forget, the stock rear glass is already 20% tinted. So adding 15% over that will still result in very dark tint.

And to answer your question, personally I like it when all the windows match. But as dark as you're going, most people won't be able to tell.

-THE DON

 

For AZ the legal limit on your front sides are 33% and any percentage is allowed on the rear sides.

 

5% all the way round

 

If you put 15 on the back and 5 on the sides it will look just fine. Because you have 20 on the back plus the 15 will bring the back down to five too- The 5 on the sides will just be pitch black.

It will also cause the sides to appear darker when they are legal....

By the way sciondrgn THAT IS NOT FAIR! I wish I could do that!!

 

Crap. I was thinking about getting the fronts done to match the rears, but 35% is all that's legal on the front windows here (I think). I'd end up with 35% on the front doors and 20% on the back doors and hatch.

 

Well, I know that 35 is the limit here in arizona, but I have 15 and never had a problem, and neither has my friend with 5 all the way around and he has been pulled over 3 times for other things.

 

fairness aint an issue. (legally), he's not allowed 5% all the way around (+ the chrome window flames that are illegal in all 50 states) any more than you are. you just as capable of getting it as he was -- just gonna have to find a shop that's willing to risk their business to do it. want it that bad ... get it... it's your ticket...

 

keep in mind. some states (NC) test tint for vehicle inspection. were **** about it too. it has to be 32% +-3% or you fail, and if you do fail, you fail the WHOLE inspection. then you have 30 days to get it fixed. the safety inspection is 9.10 passing. 8.10 if you fail. if your glass is tinted (factory smoked glass is exempt) its a 10 dollar charge pass OR fail. and if your in an emissions county it will be 40 bucks to inspect your car with tint.

just stay legal or dont tint at all.


Even as an inspector, i cant cheat the system. its a 500 dollar fine per infraction.

 

I have 35% in the front, it looks pretty close.
Better than nothing, and 20% up front will get you tickets.



-THE DON

 

Here in Hawaii, they increased the fine on illegal tints---used to be about $97, but just recently the fine was increased to over $200.

it's 35% max on the front side windows, and 20% on the rear sides, and lower on the rear window.

On mine, i have 35% all around, and with the already tinted side and rear windows, I just cannot fathom installing anything darker--especially when backing up somewhere in a dark area of a parking lot...it would be so hard to see!

 

Here is my TCM xB w/ the legal limit here in Florida (26% so I think it makes my tint 30%) on the front windows and the OEM smoked around back.

I wanted darker but I do not want to receive tickets because of dark tint.

 

Yeah, that's not bad. Hard to tell there's a difference. I feel somewhat better now.

Thanks!

 

I am gonna do the 35% up fron and be safe...any rules on doing the front windshield visor area?

 

You guys are so lucky, here in NYC we only allow 75% tint in the front without being ticketed. LOL. I wish I can do 35% because I think it's perfect

 

Mine has 28 on the doors and factory on the rest. I chose SolarGard High Performance True Grey. It matches VERY well and has only a minor color difference from the inside. I planned to add the same type of tint to the rest of the box to see if the color would match up even closer but right now I am really happy with it.

WA state is 28 on the fronts max.... Had to check my film warranty......

 

As far as I know the darkness doesnt matter as long as the width from top to bottom is only 3 inches but I could be wrong. Its almost a waste of money if you are going to follow that rule though. I got mine at 6 inches and I dont even notice it when I am driving. My friend has 9 inches and it is perfect. Remember, 9 really isnt that much on some cars due to the angle. The best way to decide is to take masking tape and run it across the windshield until you feel comfortable with the height. Also remember that the tint will not be going straight across. It will curve up in the middle. Dont try to give yourself split vision of dark over light. It sucks believe me. Only tint it to the spot above where you will be looking straight out and not any lower.

 

The front strip varies by state. http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/

 

"It's not a pick! It was an itch. The finger was clearly outside the nostril"