Window Tinting...
Thread Starter
Senior Member



SL Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
From: New York City & Los Angeles
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!
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!
Good luck!
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.
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...
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.
-- ALTHOUGH, YES, it DOES look good. Just not safe or legal.
Thread Starter
Senior Member



SL Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
From: New York City & Los Angeles
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, 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?
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 .
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.
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.
Originally Posted by windowtint
Factory is 19-20%. trust me. (my name is??)
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.
Thread Starter
Senior Member



SL Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
From: New York City & Los Angeles
Originally Posted by windowtint
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.
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.
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%
-- 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%
Originally Posted by NYCxB
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.
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.






