Favorite mod to date! Tinted windshield

fourfive said:
Like many things, I think the type & quality of tint is a factor on how well you can see through it at night and heat reduction. After having it done on the last 2 vehicles I've owned, it's a must have for me due to keeping the interior noticeably cooler, cutting down on glare, & providing UV protection for my interior. I use formula one pinnacle series ceramic tint which is pricey but great stuff. On my windshield I used pinnacle 50 which is their lightest ceramic offering. When you look at the film itself it is very light & it is very similar to looking through a plain auto windshield vs a clear glass window. The auto windshield usually has a slightly darker appearance compared to regular glass (atleast from what I've noticed) but the point is formula one's ceramic pinnacle 50 is very light. In the last 9 years of having this type of tint on my windshield, I can't think of one person that noticed it. If anyone is considering tinting their front windshield for heat reduction, UV protection for the interior, and less glare when it's sunny, I'd highly recommend a good quality ceramic tint in the lightest shade offering.
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You said exactly what I came here to say. Windshield on my Supra is tinted with the same exact stuff and it's fantastic. Yeah it was expensive, but it really cuts down on the heat and helps preserve the interior which is in mint shape even at 30 years old. Its not dark enough for it to cause any problems seeing at night, and it's also not dark enough to be noticeable. A good shop will install so it isn't noticeable either.

I wouldn't go any darker than this though on a windshield. At that point you start to effect night time visibility. When I got the 4Runner the front windows were darker than the back windows from the previous owner. I got pulled over for that alone, wasn't speeding or anything. I knew the cop was sitting there so I made sure I came to a long stop at the stop sign. 14% is what they were when he measured them, and yes they were dangerous, it was hard to see at night turning onto dark roads. Retinted to 32% (legal limit here) and it's much better.
 
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I have my windshield done ceramic light %. I had it done at a totally above board place for $100. It's completely legal in az, obviously not over a certain amount. It was explained that for me to go darker on the fronts and windshield, I'd need a letter/prescription from an optometrist. As far as night driving goes, I don't notice it as any darker. It does help a lot with the glare from other cars headlights and cuts down on cabin heat/uv damage. I will do this again.
 
fourfive said:
Like many things, I think the type & quality of tint is a factor on how well you can see through it at night and heat reduction. After having it done on the last 2 vehicles I've owned, it's a must have for me due to keeping the interior noticeably cooler, cutting down on glare, & providing UV protection for my interior. I use formula one pinnacle series ceramic tint which is pricey but great stuff. On my windshield I used pinnacle 50 which is their lightest ceramic offering. When you look at the film itself it is very light & it is very similar to looking through a plain auto windshield vs a clear glass window. The auto windshield usually has a slightly darker appearance compared to regular glass (atleast from what I've noticed) but the point is formula one's ceramic pinnacle 50 is very light. In the last 9 years of having this type of tint on my windshield, I can't think of one person that noticed it. If anyone is considering tinting their front windshield for heat reduction, UV protection for the interior, and less glare when it's sunny, I'd highly recommend a good quality ceramic tint in the lightest shade offering.
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Exactly, quality tint and a quality job is essential. I've ridden in cars with the same percentage of tint and it was downright scary. Seemed darker from inside and had orange peel effect. None of that here, just nice heat redution and not getting blasted by the sun. Enjoy :)
 
To each is own. Some people like apple some people like oranges. In NJ it's illegal to have driver and passenger window tinted. Unless you get a doctors note. And then I think you get a small little sticker added to your window. So officer knows it's medical reason. Like some people can't be bothered by the sun.
 
I don't know if this is true with other ceramic tint brands but I know formula one ceramic tint can only only be installed by authorized dealers which decreases the risk of crappy tint shops doing a bad job.
 
CA law mandates that there must be a minimum light transmission level of 70%. That does not mean you can use a 30% tint and be fine, since the percentage of tint is the amount of light the film will allow through. Typically auto glass already blocks 8-12% of light, so almost any film on the market is going to be illegal on the windshield, and front two windows of a vehicle. As someone who spent years in the window film business, I highly suggest that you should not tint your windshield....EVER. Due to the curved nature of a windshield, light refracts differently than it does on flat glass, combine that with a film that has metallic or ceramic particles, you can see brief flashes of light (sort of like lightning) in the windshield. Does it look better from the outside - absolutely, does it reduce heat and glare - absolutely, can it be dangerous and potentially life threatening to someone else - absolutely.
 
Well it looks nice and all, but I sure hope you don't come across my kid riding his bike at night.

35% tint = 35% less light = 35% less vision.
 
O,o

Sounds like one of the most dangerous mods. I can see that someone who only drives during the day in a place where it's ONLY sunny this could make some sense.

Since I'm up in Washington this would not be a smart idea.
 
I_bRAD said:
Well it looks nice and all, but I sure hope you don't come across my kid riding his bike at night.

35% tint = 35% less light = 35% less vision.
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I agree it looks killer. I don't believe low% windscreen tint is dangerous. Can tint be to dark, yes. The tint on my windshield helps at night by reducing glare from headlights without being hard to see through.
 
I didn't want to weigh in on whether this is a safe thing to do when it comes to night driving — but people are kidding themselves if they believe that they can see just as well at night with a tinted windshield. I mean, tint, by it's very nature filters/reflects/whatevers light; and it doesn't stop doing that at night either. So by default you are not going to see as well at night even accounting for "glare reduction" – with a tinted windshield. I'm not saying people can't drive safely at night with tinted windshields — but I feel that you are at a disadvantage visually compared to people without tint. In other words, it may be safe — but it's not as safe.

I once drove 600 miles through the night with my sunglasses on. They were prescription sunglasses and I had to wear them because I had broke my prescription eye glasses right at the beginning of the trip home. 600 miles of night driving with sunglasses was enough for me too. Was it safe? Yeah it was safe for the conditions I was in, but conditions change and a tinted windshield can't account for that change.

I have tinted side front windows too that are as dark as the factory rear tint. There is a very big difference in my ability see at night through the windows in certain conditions such as when making a left turn at night into a darkened street or other area. It's not so bad that I need to remove the tint for safety — but it's definitely something I am always aware of and so focus extra attention when turning at night. Safe — but not as safe as it would be without it.
 
I_bRAD said:
Well it looks nice and all, but I sure hope you don't come across my kid riding his bike at night.

35% tint = 35% less light = 35% less vision.
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I think this is wrong. 35% tint = 65% less light let through.

The percent tint is the amount let through, not blocked. So limo tint @ 10% means 90% light was blocked.

Hey OP, do you have a family, any assets or wealth? If you get in an accident at night you are at serious legal exposure of getting your ass sued off by the other driver.
 
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