Matching window tint

[whyzee125]

Hey guys! I got my windows tinted today and thought I'd share my results. I know a lot of people have asked about what percentage matches the rear factory privacy glass. With some searching I'd come to the conclusion that 20% was probably the best match but there weren't too many pictures of this. I just told the tint guy to match it and he said though the rear tint metered slightly higher than 20%, that would be the best match and it really isn't any darker. The color, naturally, isn't 100% perfect but it's about as close of a match as you're going to get and I'm completely happy with it. My tint is SolarFX CarbonFX. I paid $50 to have the front windows done and he did a great job. From inside, I cannot BELIEVE how much cooler it is from the sun. Absolutely unbelievable. It's also a little darker from inside than the rear glass (which I expected), and while it would be great if the rears were this dark too, I love how it feels more isolated and not like people are staring right through you. I may have the rears tinted darker later on because I love the feeling inside. Anywhore, hope this helps if you're considering tinting your front to match the rears. 20% is the way to go. 99% identical from outside, nice and dark from inside and keeps the sun out. No problems seeing at night either.

 

[ToyotaBrah]

Good golly miss molly, those pics are huge! Could you downsize them?

My brother had that same tint applied to the front doors on his 100 series LC. He noticed a decrease of heat in the cabin with them, too!

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Beautiful 4Runner!
An hour after I bought my '97, I had the fronts done to match the rears, and it was 100% perfect- not too dark, but dark enough. I think it was done with 25% SunTek Carbon. It was 4hrs from home, at a random shop near where I bought it.
I absolutely HATE having clear windows on my '01, and I'm FINALLY getting them tinted next Friday. Going with SunTek CIR.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Nicely done. Too bad it's illegal in my state.

 

[frodiesel]

Nicely done. Too bad it's illegal in my state.

Ditto. Not to mention noticable tint on front window just makes you a target to police. Maybe its different down south, but doubt it. Police will think you have something, reason to hide. And they are going to approach that rig with gun drawn, so have your id ready. Do NOT reach for anything.

Looks killer tho. Really love that stance, wheel, color. Nice Rig, tyler.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Kengeroo]

I did mine in 12% on the driver and passenger windows and metered the privacy tint at just over 20% so i did 50% around the rest of the car so it ended up just around 12% overall on all windows.

I thought this was going to be too dark but it's not bad at all. I have a little difficulty seeing when reversing or when it's super dark out but overall it's not too bad.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[geocook717]

I am going to tint out my windows soon enough. Always have tinted my vehicles, I think in almost all instances it provides a better look. I live in PA so as the other member mentioned, the cops definitely single out cars with tinted windows versus the same car without. With that said, if you have nothing to hide, it should not be an issue. Maybe back in my earlier years I did hesitate to tint the windows but not anymore. The benefits far outweigh the cons, at least in my instance. I have been fined for tint in the past on more than one occasion. Due to the price I pay to get it professionally put on, and the price it would cost to have it removed as well, I just pay the fine and move on. So far, no secondary issues from that mindset.

I was wondering about the whole matching the factory privacy glass. The more I think about it, I will probably do what the member above this reply did. Go darker on the front and then apply on top of the factory privacy glass to match the darker fronts. If you're going to tint it you might as well make it worthwhile. Also, in PA, technically some tint is legal, but depending on which officer you talk to, you hear differences in that law. Some say no tint is legal. With that in mind, why not go as dark as you want or as dark as you can handle. A buddy of mine used to have a black on black Prelude with double layered 5% tint. You literally could not see ANYTHING looking in from the outside. Not necessarily something I would do today, but back then it was cool.

Thanks for listening

 

[SpidermanGeek]

And they are going to approach that rig with gun drawn, so have your id ready. Do NOT reach for anything.

Lol. 'Muricah.

Tint on the front door windows and windshield are technically illegal here in Ottawa Canada as well, but unless you get an anal cop that has nothing better to do, they pretty much leave you alone about it. All of my vehicles have gotten 20% tint jobs done and I've never gotten pulled over or ticketed for them. I've been pulled over for other traffic violations, but just made sure to have my front windows down by the time the cop walks over to me (with hand nowhere near his/her gun holster).

Cops here don't draw unless it's a last resort. Too much paperwork involved in doing so.

But again, with 20% tint, especially after the initial "sun fading" period has past after install (they'll lighten up slightly after a summer), people can still clearly make out what & who is on the inside of the vehicle. The only time it's a bit more of an issue is at night, but I don't tend to be out on the road much after dark.

On my T4R, one of the previous owners had the windows tinted. Again, never had an issue with cops for this one.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Ditto. Not to mention noticable tint on front window just makes you a target to police. Maybe its different down south, but doubt it. Police will think you have something, reason to hide. And they are going to approach that rig with gun drawn, so have your id ready. Do NOT reach for anything.

Looks killer tho. Really love that stance, wheel, color. Nice Rig, tyler.

Thanks man!
And wtf?! Where do you live??
I've had darker than legal tint on my windows on at least 6 rigs in the last 15 years in Oregon, and I've never gotten pulled over for it! When I have gotten pulled over, they def didn't come out with their weapons drawn [emoji23] My wife had her windows metered once when she got pulled over in our IS300, and he still didn't give her a ticket for it.
As long as they can kind of see you inside, most cops don't bother with it. Depending on vehicle height and interior color, you can go down to 20-18% and still be visible.

 

[phattyduck]

Ditto. Not to mention noticable tint on front window just makes you a target to police. Maybe its different down south, but doubt it. Police will think you have something, reason to hide. And they are going to approach that rig with gun drawn, so have your id ready. Do NOT reach for anything.

You should have all 4 windows down by the time you stop, keys on the dash and hands on the wheel by the time the cop gets to the the car. Respect gets respect.

I've been pulled over for 'window tint' (actually checking if I was drunk at 2am) - no ticket. Speeding at 30+ over at night, no ticket, etc.

The only place I really worry is around LAX.

-Charlie