DARKEST tint for the rear window that isn't frustrating to see out of? - Page 3 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Bumbo · 04-09-2019, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Moleman

I used 3M Crystalline 50 mainly for UV and heat rejection so my arms and face don’t get burned.

I absolutely love the 3M Crystalline stuff... I am getting the clear 90 put on the windshield. Cant even tell its on there.

Its amazing how well that stuff works from a UV and heat rejection standpoint.

Expensive, but its about best best stuff i've ever used.

redneckj · 04-09-2019, 03:16 PM

A very high end film stops the heat from entering the car. NO if ands or buts. If you park your car in a Walmart parking lot in arizona in the middle of july its going to be hot when you get inside of it. The idea of a high end tint it to stop the heat from entering the car once the AC has been turned on and is cooling the car down. With the AC on recirculate and a high end IR film installed on the entire car, it will continue to get colder and colder inside the car.

plus there are the medical reasons to tint your car as well.

YouTube

ADT_192 · 04-09-2019, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob_dixon

Sure man.

Save your money. I am going to call this "The big Tint lie"

This has to do with science I am very curious about. I get it. I do. But here is the marketing: "Light tint rejects 60% of solar energy and up to 97% of heat-producing infrared rays for the ultimate in comfort." "Reject heat" cooler car, etc.

In the installer, they have an infrared light behind the various tints. You press the button and feel the heat (or lack of) behind the tint. 100% convincing. This is REAL - your hand does not lie.

But in function, and in the science behind how heat actually builds up in a vehicle, it is 100% BS.

After tint, my truck is seemingly not 1 degree cooler than prior to tint. I am not one to fall for placebo affect easily. So I did a search and found some guy ran an actual experiment which proved my suspicions in a Tesla.

Experiment: 3M Crystalline Tint Makes ZERO Difference in Cabin Temp | Tesla

So basically I just spent just over $1K to have darker windows which I could have done for $350. I was expecting a significant different in temperatures. THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT of paying premium.

If anyone can find another real world dispute of this (or explain) I'd love to see it. And before you say TIME may be a factor, I am talking literally minutes here in Phoenix before its intolerable, same as before - and it was only 82-85 yesterday. AND keep in mind compared to many vehicles our windshield angle to the sun is much LESS horizontal than most.

I'd love to see the industry have real world measurements in addition to all current stats: A chart of Degrees raised over time (e.g. 30 minutes) on a standard industry platform. But that might mean we see this "alleged" BS, so don't expect that. But I am just 1 guy.

Well not trying to be a 3M advocate here, but referring only to the experiment you quoted, the guy says the windshield wasn't tinted in either tesla, and tesla's model 3 sunroof has an IR coating from factory, so by parking both of them on the sunlight, his measurements are not significant. The difference in IR protected areas between the two cars were were only the side and 'small' back window, and when you take into account the difference in body colors of the two cars, well, both cars interiors' will heat pretty evenly.

Now, you said that at the shop you can feel the difference between having the the tint between the IR or not having the tint in between, that would apply for example when you have the sun shining through your windshield and you move your hand from the center console(assume shaded) to the steering wheel, if you do not have the tint you will feel your hand warm up, and if you have the tint you should feel it warm up very little.

Lastly, even with IR or UV reflecting tints, if you leave your car in the sun for long periods of time it will get warm, how warm will depend on the specifics of the day, the tint may lengthen the time it gets the interior to get warm, but it will still get there, I think especially, on a vehicle like the one used for that test where most of the roof is glass.

Anyways, apologies for the long response!

IanB · 04-09-2019, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashalatheballa

so all in all, i don't think you actually wasted your money. what do you guys think?

I think he spent roughly 3X too much, it's just window tint.

Hans Moleman · 04-09-2019, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbo

I absolutely love the 3M Crystalline stuff... I am getting the clear 90 put on the windshield. Cant even tell its on there.

Its amazing how well that stuff works from a UV and heat rejection standpoint.

Expensive, but its about best best stuff i've ever used.

To be honest, if I had to do it over again on my T4R, I would go with the Llumar CTX ceramic instead of 3M Crystalline.

On paper the 3M Crystalline is better than the Llumar CTX.

In the real world, my Tacoma has Llumar CTX and I can't tell the difference between it and the 3M Crystalline on the T4R in terms of feeling the heat. And the Llumar was half the price of the 3M.

ayeyothisiskyle · 04-09-2019, 03:32 PM

A vehicle does not only heat up through its windows. Your roof is receiving direct sunlight and there isnt much in the sense of insulation from the roof and the headliner. If you have a darker vehicle, itll be warmer than the same vehicle in white. Tint and window shades help with surface temperatures that can radiate heat making it seem hotter in the car. Ambient temps will rise no matter what. Its a sealed box.

I view tint as a privacy thing rather than a heat repellant. Thats why I only spent $175 on 20% fronts and 35% in the back windows. They'll probably fade in 5-10 years and turn purple, but strip and spend another $175 isnt that much a of a deal to me.

aye_dre · 04-09-2019, 04:23 PM

I currently have a 35% on the front two and limo tint on the remaining windows. No issues for me

Bumbo · 04-09-2019, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayeyothisiskyle

A vehicle does not only heat up through its windows. Your roof is receiving direct sunlight and there isnt much in the sense of insulation from the roof and the headliner. If you have a darker vehicle, itll be warmer than the same vehicle in white. Tint and window shades help with surface temperatures that can radiate heat making it seem hotter in the car. Ambient temps will rise no matter what. Its a sealed box.

I view tint as a privacy thing rather than a heat repellant. Thats why I only spent $175 on 20% fronts and 35% in the back windows. They'll probably fade in 5-10 years and turn purple, but strip and spend another $175 isnt that much a of a deal to me.

Inbound heat load is a given, that’s not why I would use things like Llumar CTX or 3M Crystalline on my off-road truck, it’s the rejection of infrared and UV. That said, it does help if you are cooling as a load is reduced.

I don’t like dark tint, don’t need the privacy, don’t like to compromise night time viewing… but I need to stop cooking myself sitting in the sun for 5-8 hours a day behind the wheel. I remember after a long trip, I needed up getting out with sunburnt lips.

On my street vehicles, I use regular tint, but you can also just get darker ceramic films. It think its just a better product.

Bumbo · 04-09-2019, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Moleman

To be honest, if I had to do it over again on my T4R, I would go with the Llumar CTX ceramic instead of 3M Crystalline.

On paper the 3M Crystalline is better than the Llumar CTX.

In the real world, my Tacoma has Llumar CTX and I can't tell the difference between it and the 3M Crystalline on the T4R in terms of feeling the heat. And the Llumar was half the price of the 3M.

That a good tip, perhaps ill look into that and save myself a few bucks.

I felt my tint shop who is 3M certified has pretty decent pricing on their film… about $200 for a windshield. Do you know how that might compare to what you are paying?

Hans Moleman · 04-09-2019, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbo

That a good tip, perhaps ill look into that and save myself a few bucks.

I felt my tint shop who is 3M certified has pretty decent pricing on their film… about $200 for a windshield. Do you know how that might compare to what you are paying?

I'm not sure because I didn't have my windshield tinted. Llumar makes an Air 80 or Air 90 for the windshield which should be a lot cheaper than 3M.

I only had my front windows tinted because my arms and face were burning from the afternoon sun on the way home from work every day.

For the both front windows:
1) Basic dyed tint using reputable tint like 3M Color Stable or Llumar ATC was $100.
2) Llumar CTX ceramic was $150.
3) 3M Crystalline was $300.
4) Some generic tint was like $50 which will probably peel and turn turn purple.

Llumar also makes a Stratos and Pinnacle which is premium and priced like 3M Crystalline. I think the key thing is to get a ceramic tint for the best heat and IR rejection. Llumar CTX seems to be the best for the money.

In terms of UV rejection, it seems like the dyed tints can do 99% like the ceramic. If you are just going for UV rejection, any reputable dyed tint would do.

Bumbo · 04-09-2019, 06:18 PM

I am getting quoted $150 for the two front windows using 3M Crystalline, so its on par with your Llumar CTX ceramic pricing.

I've called around and got quote for $300-400 for a windshield using Crystalline so I am confident that pricing I am getting is solid.

Fortunately this tint shop only sells 3M film, and their prices are pretty competitive. On top of that, their shop is clean and their work is pretty good.

I already got my Acura tinted with color stable, but going back to get the 4Runner done too.

Either way, excited to get this... it's a long over due luxury upgrade for my desert rig.

Hans Moleman · 04-09-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbo

I am getting quoted $150 for the two front windows using 3M Crystalline, so its on par with your Llumar CTX ceramic pricing.

I've called around and got quote for $300-400 for a windshield using Crystalline so I am confident that pricing I am getting is solid.

Fortunately this tint shop only sells 3M film, and their prices are pretty competitive. On top of that, their shop is clean and their work is pretty good.

I already got my Acura tinted with color stable, but going back to get the 4Runner done too.

Either way, excited to get this... it's a long over due luxury upgrade for my desert rig.

$150 for 3M Crystalline is a very good deal. I could have probably done better if I shopped around some more but I don't think will find it that low.

chell · 04-09-2019, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knuckledragger

Here’s 20% on the front. Factory rear.

Are you happy with 20% or do you wish you did something darker?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

redneckj · 04-09-2019, 09:14 PM

Great video showing the heat rejection of Xpel XR+

YouTube

rob_dixon · 04-09-2019, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Moleman

To be honest, if I had to do it over again on my T4R, I would go with the Llumar CTX ceramic instead of 3M Crystalline.

On paper the 3M Crystalline is better than the Llumar CTX.

In the real world, my Tacoma has Llumar CTX and I can't tell the difference between it and the 3M Crystalline on the T4R in terms of feeling the heat. And the Llumar was half the price of the 3M.

Yeah this is my point....I am very glad i tinted, plus looks awesome, just thinking you may wish to go a little lower in price point as the difference is hard to tell!

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