Calling all armchair engineers and physicists

[m85476585]

Extra light is absorbed and turned into heat in the tint unless you have mirrored tint or a special heat rejecting tint like VW uses. Darker tint should make the glass get hotter, but it might keep the interior cooler.

I think mirrored tint would have to be on the outside, so it might not work that well.

 

[1engineer]

Extra light is absorbed and turned into heat in the tint unless you have mirrored tint or a special heat rejecting tint like VW uses. Darker tint should make the glass get hotter, but it might keep the interior cooler.

I think mirrored tint would have to be on the outside, so it might not work that well.

Right and it depends on how tight the glass fits and whether there is any tension placed on the glass when it is closed. Sure they are all the same but remember there are mfg tolerances so if yours is close and the heat causes the correct expansion and the planets align then yes the glass would shatter. Takes a lot of stuff to happen but it is possible. YOLO.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

My other vehicle has a sunroof that is tinted at something like 5%. It has not exploded yet, but now I'm a little paranoid. The PO even used a Sharpie to color in where some of it peeled off - looks suuuuper classy.

 

[Chsbrgr]

Had no idea this was a thing. It's a lot cooler inside at the end of the day.

 

[LandCruiser]

I use the sliding plastic shade thing when I think it's too bright/hot.

 

[Saker]

Had mine done with ceramic. I think it was 50%.

 

[marshal]

Disclaimer: I'm not a scientist. I tinted mine limo dark. I'm a Ginger. Me and sun don't get along well. Now I open the sunroof shade and use it more often. [emoji48]

 

[bloodninja]

All of my windows are tinted to 4% (5% on front, 15% on all rear) and 5% strip on windshield. I didn't do anything to the sunroof because in my mind, if I'm going to let the light in through the sunroof, I'll also have my side windows down.

 

[lightspeed]

I recently did 15% ceramic on driver and passenger, then 30% over the factory rear glass. I love it like crazy.
It didn't occur to me to do the sunroof because I hardly ever use it, and when I do it's for air not light, so it's either fully closed or fully open.

But for folks who like to tilt the rear of the sunroof up a crack to vent, a sunroof tint might make sense. I rarely use that function only because with the rear glass down and front windows down the venting is so awesome.

 

[wfo9]

Armchair speculation below:

I think it is possible in theory, unlikely to be a problem in practice.

Yes, the tinted glass will get hotter. in fact, the ceramic type film will most likely make it worse. More heat rejected from the inside surface of the glass = greater external temperature and thermal expansion.

However, the main issue for cracking is thermal stress from uneven heating. If the surface is heated to the same temperature uniformly there is typically very little stress. BUT, there is a frame and the glass probably extends into the frame about 1/2". Since the film is only applied to the exposed glass... this increases the imbalance of heat distribution and thermal stress.

The total surface area and thickness is a major factor in how much thermal stress can be tolerated. Since the sunroof is pretty small and relatively thick.... I speculate the chances of a crack from adding tint is of little concern.

 

[rydr1]

All speculation from my experience. 2007 Camry with tinted windows and sunroof, never had an issues. 2013 4runner, tinted all windows, including sunroof, no problems. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[ic0517]

Just get the sunroof mirrored.

 

[nevada]

The discussion topic today will be:

Adding tint film to sunroof glass.

Discuss.

do it. tell us how I goes

I think the added weight of the tint will likely reduce your gas mileage. Just sayin :crutch:

and top heavy....

A girl and a ginger? Tread lightly boys.

To the discussion at hand. If tint is added doesn't that mean less heat getting in as well?

id be ok with that. I think the sunshade does a good job of keeping that heat out of the cabin though.

 

[BLACK-FL4RUNNER]

You can't tint lexan windows, which many sunroofs or "T" top vehicles used to be made of (think corvette). The lexan will retain too much heat creating spider web cracking all throughout. House windows are another discussion...

4Runner sunroof is glass, tint as dark as you want. lol

:thumb: