Need tint opinion

[benhar]

I know there are already 2 other tint threads floating around today, but I don't want to hijack them...

I've been wanting to tint my front windows to a closer match to the back windows for some time now, and found out yesterday it would only cost me $50, so I really have no reason not to!

However, after searching around here a little, it seems the general consensus is that 35% is not enough to match, and will only make me want to go darker. Our legal limit in Georgia is 35%, so I really don't want to bother if it won't be worth it.

So, I guess my question is directed to those with 35% tint... are you all happy with that level of tint? Is it enough of a match to be worth doing?

 

[iFORCE]

I might not have 35% right now.. but I did when I first put tint on the front windows.... and let me tell you.... it wasn't enough. since there is a hint of green in the windows itself.. the tint didn't hide it and looked quite odd.

SO...

I got them to take it off.. and put 2X% on.. either 23 or 25 (therefore the X). perfect. Its dark enough to see people inside... but still retain that mysterious look.

Ir really depends on what your use to and what kind of risks your willing to take. Here in Calgary, it is illegal to tint the front two windows.. but hey.. everyone does. I've had front tint on all my vehicles now for about 6 years and haven't had a problem with the law.

 

[benhar]

I might not have 35% right now.. but I did when I first put tint on the front windows.... and let me tell you.... it wasn't enough. since there is a hint of green in the windows itself.. the tint didn't hide it and looked quite odd.

SO...

I got them to take it off.. and put 2X% on.. either 23 or 25 (therefore the X). perfect. Its dark enough to see people inside... but still retain that mysterious look.

Ir really depends on what your use to and what kind of risks your willing to take. Here in Calgary, it is illegal to tint the front two windows.. but hey.. everyone does. I've had front tint on all my vehicles now for about 6 years and haven't had a problem with the law.

All I'm really trying to do is get a close match to the rear windows to give the side view of the 4Runner a cleaner and more uniform look, if that makes sense. To me, the 2 front un-tinted windows stick out next to the tinted rear windows. I could probably get away with the darker tint, but the tint shop won't do it.

Did you get charcoal tint?

 

[iFORCE]

All I'm really trying to do is get a close match to the rear windows to give the side view of the 4Runner a cleaner and more uniform look, if that makes sense. To me, the 2 front un-tinted windows stick out next to the tinted rear windows. I could probably get away with the darker tint, but the tint shop won't do it.

Did you get charcoal tint?

yes.. regular charcoal tint.


I've always liked having my rear window darker than the front... but if your trying to get it all uniform... (without tinting the back), 30-35% should be around where it is at.

 

[benhar]

yes.. regular charcoal tint.


I've always liked having my rear window darker than the front... but if your trying to get it all uniform... (without tinting the back), 30-35% should be around where it is at.

Ok, thanks!

I had to read your post a couple of times when you said you like your front windows lighter, when your tint is in the 20's. Then I noticed that your rear windows are 15%. I'm a little slow today

 

[cdoyle]

I have 20 on mine, and it's an almost perfect match.

legal limit here is 35% too, but have never had any problems.

 

[mjweber96]

20% is perfect. All the cops are concerned with is their own safety. They don't want to pull up on a car with 5% limo and some fool pulls a gun on the them and guns them down because they couldn't see in. As long as they can see what's going on they usually leave you alone, unless you are doing something else like speeding. I think that 35% is too light and 5% is too dark. Makes nighttime driving a pain when the roads are not lit.

 

[Jacobzky]

my tint guy said thw stock alone at the rears are close if not lower than 35%.

i did ask him to put the lightest tint on the fronts, at least better than no tint.

 

[Ele'ele]

tint

In Tennessee, the law is strict and can only put 35% on the front. Like you mentioned it is way too light to match the rest of the 4runner. So I just drove over the state line to Arkansas and had them put another smoke film of 35% over the high performance 1st film. Matches and looks great. You can still see in enough so that I would not get pulled over. I also put another layer of tint over the factory tint to make it darker, now no one can see into my car and see what they can steal. I also put 20% over the sun roof to make that darker and keep the car cooler. All works great.

 

[iFORCE]

tint on sunroof = bad news.

that's what i've heard.. don't remember the reason why though.. help anyone?

 

[Uneek]

tint on sunroof = bad news.

that's what i've heard.. don't remember the reason why though.. help anyone?

I've read that it makes the glass darker which attracts more heat and causes it to shatter. Can't remember where I read it, but it seems like some people have cracked moonroofs while others don't have any problems.

 

[sketch1]

I used to have 20% on my mustang and that was pretty good... then I wanted it darker and went down to 5%. The legal limit in Oklahoma is also 35% (I believe) but I never had a cop ever stop me for it. And I had it that dark for at least 4 years. Maybe longer.

 

[Mixed4u]

Here's mine with 35% Charcoal Madico tint film on the front. I don't see any green. It's a perfect match from the outside looking in, but the film is noticeably darker than the privacy glass from the inside looking out. It get's very dark at night where I live and I'm still getting used to it. (I've only had the front done for a week now.)

 

[benhar]

Here's mine with 35% Charcoal Madico tint film on the front. I don't see any green. It's a perfect match from the outside looking in, but the film is noticeably darker than the privacy glass from the inside looking out. It get's very dark at night where I live and I'm still getting used to it. (I've only had the front done for a week now.)

Thanks for the pic, that's plenty close enough of a match for me!

 

[Red3.slow]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the laws. A guy at my school has a Chevy truck 5% all the way around, as well as "tanker vision" basically a super thick eye brow on top and a reveres eye brow on the bottom. Leaving about 6 inches of un-tinted glass on the windshield.

 

[Bill3508]

benhar,

I just purchase my 06 sport and had the windows tinted. I am also in Georgia. I went with 35% smoke grey on the two front side windows and with a 6" strip on the front. It looks great and blends in well with the back windows. I would not hesitate to do it again.

Bill3508

 

[Fourty-four]

At first, I had my 4Runner done with 35% on the front windows, but it was much lighter than the factory tint on the rest of the windows. At some angles, it looked decent (like some of the pictures in this thread), but when you looked directly from the side, it was easy to tell that the 35% tint was not a good match.

I had the windows redone (for free!) with 20%, and it was an exact match to the factory tint on the other windows.

Sure, it may be illegal, but so what? After 1.5 years, I've never been ticketed, so I'm not going to worry about it.

Be a rebel and get the matching tint!

 

[Bill3508]

Problem is in Georgia most of the dealers won't put on tint that is darker than 35% as they get fined if caught. I had 20% on my black Impala SS all the way around back in 1996 and it was a mean looking vehicle. The place where I got my 4runner tinted won't do lower than 35%.

Bill3508

 

[alpha]

tint on sunroof = bad news.

that's what i've heard.. don't remember the reason why though.. help anyone?

I've read that it makes the glass darker which attracts more heat and causes it to shatter. Can't remember where I read it, but it seems like some people have cracked moonroofs while others don't have any problems.

It's not necessarily that it makes the glass darker, its more of that the film absorbs heat. It holds this heat in and can crack the glass. It's known as a heat fracture. More common with double pane glass. If you go too dark on a sunroof, it can heat fracture. I think sunroof glass may also be softer, but I can't verify that.

So a film that has a high heat absorption can aid in cracking the glass on the sunroof. It's a risk to take, and most people are okay.. Just depends on what film and its absorption rate. But there is always the risk of it fracturing.