Factory Window Tint - how dark?

[T4R_Finally]

Anybody ever had the factory tint that is on the rear windows checked to see what it is rated at? I want to get my front windows tinted, but in NC, tint is only legal down to 35% +/- 2%. But I'd like it to be as dark as is legal but not darker than what is already there.

My 5th gen came with post-factory tint, installed by the distributor, and is legal. And I think it looks really good. Having the front windows tinted seems to make the rear ones appear even darker in sunlight than they normally would be.

 

[Nunyabiz]

I am in NC also and my front driver/passenger windows came tinted when I bought it.
It appears to be identical to the rears and it is supposed to be 20%.
Have yet to be bothered by a cop with nothing else better to do.
I love the 20% tinting during the day especially in Summer, it is a tiny bit bothersome at night while trying to back into a parking space, I need to open my door or roll down the window to see.

Maybe put a "Support your Local Police" sticker on your bumper.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Thanks. It's not the cops that are the issue for us. We know most of the local ones anyway and several have told me that they could care less about window tint or people wearing seatbelts as far as pulling someone over with either of those being the primary reason. However, they are cracking down at the state level. One of my friends is the local DMV inspector. A former cop and detective, part of his job is making sure that the approved inspection stations are doing what they are supposed to do. He told me that his bosses have even empowered him to stop people and write citations for window tint violations. Bottom line, it's the annual inspection that is becoming difficult to get past. This past spring, I had to take the vehicle I had prior to the T4R and get the window tint swapped to a lighter tint because nobody would pass the inspection for me.

 

[cordrayj1]

its should be 20%. thats what they told me my front windows needed to be to match the factory.

 

[Millerad1651]

When I got my fronts done, they matched to Toyota factory, which was something like 22%. Most shops have a list of what is factory so they can match. I have always had my fronts at 20%, even though the law is 35%, and have never had a problem. Seems to me there are always bigger things to worry about for the cops around here. And in Indiana, we don't have inspections (unless you live in the region) so I don't have to worry about that part.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

20% is going to match pretty well, however, if you can't pass inspection with that you're either going to have to:

1. Go with 30-35%
2. Get 20% and take it off before your inspection each year and then put it back on

 

[DeTwizzle]

^ I would go with #1 of the post above.
I had 20% for the longest time, never pulled over... but I did almost run over ppl every once in a while baking up it a parking lot at night. It was just really hard to see out my windows with that kinda tint.

And then I went in for inspection and boom, made me peel it right in front of them before they would inspect... what a sticky mess...

 

[T4R_Finally]

Okay, well sounds like I can't legally go darker than the other windows, which is fine, I don't mind going lighter to stay legal. Again, it's not a matter of getting pulled over, it's a matter of being able to pass annual inspection without the hassle of going to several different places before someone is willing to overlook it. It doesn't look as odd as you would think for the front windows to be tinted but lighter than the back. That's the way my 5th gen is. But I think it would odd for the fronts to be darker than the rear.

Here's a side pic of my 5th gen from the day we bought it. The front windows are tinted but are NC legal. I don't think it looks odd at all.

 

[tbst]

Inspections are BS. Especially here in WV. Some people have smashed front windshields one lug not on every wheel and have an inspection sticker.

However, because I live around a university, every time I go for an inspection, the car shops find "something" wrong with my car.

Tie rods don't need to be replaced every year.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Yep, it really depends on where you go and if they are under, or feel like they are under any sort of pressure to look for every little thing. I don't know a single place around here that will overlook the tint anymore. But I have a friend that bought a Tundra demonstrator from the same dealer I bought my 5th gen from. It belonged to the owner's son, who is a race driver in the truck series. He had the thing decked out all the way to the limo tinted windows all around. My friend just takes it back to the dealer every year and they pass the inspection for him.

It just isn't worth the hassle to me to worry about passing inspection or getting pulled over by the next Barney Fife that has nothing better to do at the time. Legal tint is still dark enough to be effective. I just didn't want to find out after the fact that my front windows are darker than the back ones. But if they are at 20% already, I don't have to worry about it.

My buddy I referred to earlier, that works for DMV, gets cars that have known problems and sends people into inspection stations to make sure they find the issues. If not, they get fined or could even lose their inspection credentials. He's a great guy but he is good at his job and that's probably why nobody around here will let things slide anymore.

 

[Nunyabiz]

Thanks. It's not the cops that are the issue for us. We know most of the local ones anyway and several have told me that they could care less about window tint or people wearing seatbelts as far as pulling someone over with either of those being the primary reason. However, they are cracking down at the state level. One of my friends is the local DMV inspector. A former cop and detective, part of his job is making sure that the approved inspection stations are doing what they are supposed to do. He told me that his bosses have even empowered him to stop people and write citations for window tint violations. Bottom line, it's the annual inspection that is becoming difficult to get past. This past spring, I had to take the vehicle I had prior to the T4R and get the window tint swapped to a lighter tint because nobody would pass the inspection for me.

I will keep that in mind when I get inspected this year, I will simply roll both windows down before I pull up and they will never see it.
I go the "Inspection Station" for that and they do not seem to me like they would care one bit but I will roll down my windows anyway because I am not removing it.

 

[Brentif]

The closest match to factory tint is 3M FX Premium 25. Thats our recommendation when we tint peoples 4runners at work. I put a Wincos 30 all the way around on mine. It is a spectrally selective film so it blocks out IR and UV rays. It blocks twice the heat of limo and is way lighter, but about twice the price. I did my windshiled in 3M Crystaline 70. Basically clear and has a 50% heat rejection. I left my back windows darker than the fronts to hopefully prevent getting hassled by the man.

PM with any tint questions you may have.

Window Tinting Los Angeles - Window Film Los Angeles - Campbell Window Film - Window Tint Los Angeles - Orange County - Long Beach - Newport Security Film - OC Tinting

 

[GottaBeTRD]

this is good to know, I hate the tinting laws they are so re****ed. I know it makes the cops nervous but why not make a law that requires you to put your windows down when your pulled over?

For the safety part (as far as seeing at night) yeah i cant defend that but i think the 20% would be ok.

you guys are lucky, Utah tint laws are at 43% for the front windows and it blows!

 

[T4R_Finally]

I will simply roll both windows down before I pull up and they will never see it.

I go the "Inspection Station" for that and they do not seem to me like they would care one bit but I will roll down my windows anyway because I am not removing it.

I'm not in favor of a window tint law, or a seat belt law for that matter. If you roll your truck when you aren't wearing a belt and find yourself mangled and 200 feet from the truck when everything stops, it's your own fault.

I did the roll down the windows trick the first 2 years we owned the previous vehicle. I'm not sure if they fell for it or just overlooked the tint anyway, but I got away with it. The last time - no dice. That's when I asked my DMV buddy about it at a party we were both at and that's when he told me why. Law is law, whether you agree with it or not, and the inspection stations want to keep their business.

You may not want to remove it, and I understand that. But, if/when it comes to it, as you know, if you don't get an inspection, you don't get your license plates renewed. Then you have no choice but remove it.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

Seems like no one has the correct answer here. I know the answer!!! :trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy:


Factory tint is 23%. That's why 20% tint exists. It's the closest they can get to matching factory tint. I'm a huge fan of 3% limo tint all around with a 3.5 inch 0% tint strip on my windshield with another 20% front windows over 3% while rear is solely 3% tint only

 

[Millerad1651]

Eh, I was close with 22%...not that those 2 or 3 % matter when you go that dark!