Front Window Tint

[JLM3rd]

Hi All,
I'd like to get my front side windows tinted to match the rear side and cargo area windows. Is there a certain level of tint I should look for? Are their some techniques that are better than others? Haven't started to look for a shop yet and wanted to know what to look for.
Thanks
John

 

[bofa]

Matching will depend on the color and composition the tint. It varies by manufacturer. A good tinter will be able to help you find a match. Ask local people for tint recommendations or check online reviews.

The last time I had dark driver/passenger windows to match the rears, I didn't like it. In darker areas at night, especially when stopping and looking left or right to turn, I couldn't see a damn thing and had to roll the window down.

 

[Fidgets]

The rear windows appeared to me to have a factory dye (tint) with slightly green-ish hue to them.

To color-match, you might want to tint all around. YMMV.

I'd ask the pros at local tint shop(s) their advice as well.

 

[wanderMT]

Check your state laws on tint

 

[desertred]

Quick Google search indicates that Missouri (assumption from your profile) laws require at least 35% light transmission on the front side windows.

 

[jspagna1]

I don't like too dark a tint either and that is why I went with 40% on all my other vehicles. But with the suggestion from my tint guy, I went with 35% 3M tint on the front side windows of my truck and I like it and think it looks good.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Any good tint shop will be able to match the rears, no problem. But, like others have said, there are tint laws that require a certain light transmission. Some shops will tint darker, but the liability is 100% on you. Oregon law is 35% as well, and shops will go darker, but it's a cash transaction, and you get no receipt. They keep your info on file for warranty still.
I recommend staying within the lines of the law.
What's the saying? "Do as I say; not as I do"? [emoji23]

 

[Angelo]

I went through three different tintings before I was satisfied with the quality of the work on my truck, granted the first two were by the same guy trying to get it right. Here's some stuff I learned:

- The rear windows of the 4Runner are "privacy glass", which is usually (per dealer and tint guys / detailers that I've spoken to) around 20%. This tint is baked into the glass so it's NEVER going to match an aftermarket tint exactly. The good news is that the difference is pretty hard to see unless you're looking for it and as mentioned previously most tint shops can match very closely.

- No aftermarket tint is ever perfect- if you look closely even on a well done job you'll generally find at least one or two imperfections / bubble spots. Ideally they're inconspicuous and out of your direct line of vision.

- Explaining my case to the local tint shop after two times having it screwed up somewhere else worked wonders, they put their best guy on it and it turned out great.

- If there's a big price difference between regular and "ceramic" tint, go regular. The upsale for "blocking heat" or whatever is just silly- as if the windows are the only places that heat gets into your truck.

 

[fourwd1]

Moved to General Discussion section.

 

[PWD4R]

I would look up huper optics. Not everyone is certified to do that but it's amazing. 3M gets hot still. Luckily huper optics is clear so you can put it on all of your windows (I wanted to do the front but it's harder to take off registration sticker in Texas because it sticks too much) and then just match the front to the back with whatever is legal

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[Hoffie]

I am going to be getting my front windows tinted along with the windshield here soon - especially before the AZ heat starts kicking up. We had our Fiat 500 windows tinted that way and it made such a huge difference in that little green house.

 

[jspagna1]

I know that tinting the windshield is illegal in CT only the top like 6"s. I think in that case if I were to get my front windshield tinted I would go with 50%.

 

[Hltoppr]

Although OP was talking about the front driver's and passenger's side windows, since I've had a couple of entire windshields tinted I'll speak up on the experience.

First of all, I wouldn't do a front windshield tint on a rig I'd drive off pavement at night.

The two vehicles I've tinted were an Aston Martin Vantage and a Jaguar Vanden Plas...both that obviously never see dirt. I used a 50% tint on both when new windshields were installed. The interiors of both vehicles (especially the AM) were prone to sun damage...and the cost to repair said damage is, well...commensurate with the vehicle make. I think merely sneezing on an Aston runs $1000, in my experience.

For these rigs, the tint was really worth it. There is some distortion at night, and if someone wears polarized glasses they're going to see rainbows. The reduction in interior heat was welcome, and preserving the dash is money well spent.

Not the best view...but 50% tint isn't really bad at all.

-H-

 

[el_kab0ng]

Not that this matters much given tinting laws are different State to State, but at least in Texas the rule of thumb I was given is 'back windows can be limo black, front windows (excluding the windshield) one level lighter'. I haven't had any issues with LE doing it that way (and most manufacturers won't let you limo black your front windows anyway as they are also held liable.)

Blacking out the back like I did on my T4R has it's benefits and drawbacks, the latter being difficulty seeing out the side windows after dark. The pro, however, is that you don't have to flip your rear view mirror when some jack wagon rolls up behind you with their brights on.

 

[Hoffie]

That is a beautiful Aston. That is the same % that we used on the front of my wife's Fiat.. We have only been stopped once in 3 years that we have owned the car and no issues from the officer. At that % you really have to look hard to even notice it - from the outside of the vehicle.

I know that if you have very sensitive eyes and a doctors excuse you can legally tint the front windshield - at least in AZ.

 

[sjgft]

I did 5% on the rear(on top of factory tint), 20% on front doors and a 5% windshield brow! Huge difference

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ncst8fan]

I went with 40% llumar ceramic on all of the windows this past weekend

 

[MORmjso]

I had 5% SolarGuard tint applied over the factory tinted rear windows then had 18% applied on the driver/passenger door and it looks great. I do like my windows dark though.

 

[Ahisa]

Uv

I had 3M Crystaline 40 put on the front two side windows, which matched the rear windows pretty well. However, since the OEM tint on the rear windows from Toyota do not block out 100% UV light, I had 3M Crystaline put on the rear windows as well. Also I had the sunroof and Windshield covered with 3M Crystaline 90. This gives me 360 degree protection from UV light and does a hell of a job of keeping the interior cool.

 

[MORmjso]

I had 3M Crystaline 40 put on the front two side windows, which matched the rear windows pretty well. However, since the OEM tint on the rear windows from Toyota do not block out 100% UV light, I had 3M Crystaline put on the rear windows as well. Also I had the sunroof and Windshield covered with 3M Crystaline 90. This gives me 360 degree protection from UV light and does a hell of a job of keeping the interior cool.

Its pretty impressive how much tint helps in cooling the interior during summer time.