Opinions on tint?

Bimmer-Bob

Bimmer-Bob

New member
Wondering what folks are doing about tinting their windows. My other car is tinted at 35% all around, which is the legal limit in TX, the state where the car is registered. I'm happy with that level, and was planning on doing the same for the 4Runner. But now that I have it, I'm noticing that the tints in the rear windows are actually already pretty dark. I prefer not to have a differential between the front and rear, so I'm wondering if I can just tint the two front windows to match. Anyone know what % the rears are? A tint shop can measure that, I think. But I'm worried about different media having a different look/shade/etc. Best suggestions for a uniform look throughout?

Thanks.
 
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the factory is around 22% from what i remember. but you will have an issue with the shading. plus the front window lets in more light so the front two will always look lighter. for me i did 15% up front and added 15% to rears to make them darker/same color. it matches and im happy with it
 
I have 35%

I have 35% on my fronts. You're right, it doesn't match the ~20 ish on the back, but it's ok. MA also limits you to 35%.

I also did the strip across the top of the windshield, I think MA allows whatever tint you like down to 6", which is what I had done.

It's not perfect, but it's a pain to have darker up here in MA. Cops in my town will actually give you a moving violation for it and inspection is a pain.

I can take a picture tomorrow, it's already dark out, and I'm not sure how a garage picture will come out.

T
 
I had a 38% tint applied to my front windows that, when combined with the slight tint from the factory equals 35% total tint. Oregon requires that the total tint on the front windows does not exceed 35% and it was enforced a good bit in the neck of woods I used to live in. As others have said, the shading (color) was slightly different than the factory tint on the rears, and the notable difference will depend on the lighting. I've attached a (bad)picture to where the difference is not readily noticeable on a partly cloudy day.
 

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It changed either mid to late 2012, or early this year.

EDIT: Just checked online. The current standard was enacted in 2012. " amended to be effective April 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 2430"
 
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Bimmer-Bob said:
Thanks for the heads up. I'll dig through these threads.
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I put 20% on my front windows and it matches almost perfectly. The darkness is almost exact, but the shade is a tiny bit different. Hardly even noticeable unless it is super bright out though. As mentioned previously, the fronts tend to look less tinted since your windshield is allowing about 95% light through.
 
I have a 2014 Trail 4R, and I just put 35% 3M Color Stable tint on the front doors only. The installer said that the tint combined with the factory tint would be about 28%, just above the 25% Texas legal limit. It is closer to matching the back windows now than factory and it is legal and blocks 99% of the UV so that is about as good as I can hope for. The next step darker was 20%, and that would have been illegal and bad for night driving IMO.
 
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Tint on front windows in CA is illegal. That being said, I have limo on rears and sunroof and 50% on the fronts. Not been stopped yet, but locations vary. I believe down where you are cops don't mind so much as long as they can see in enough to make sure you aren't on your cell and your seatbelt is on. Ymmv
 
I have 15% on the front and 35% on the back over the factory bake and it matches perfectly.

BUT if I were to do it again I'd put 15% all the way around.
 
I have 15 all around and over the factory back tint. Honestly I wouldn't go that dark again. Reverse at night it a pita and I had to add some rigid d2's to make reverse tolerable.
 
leftyguns21 said:
always curious...would CHP stop an out of state vehicle with 'illegal' tint? ive driven to CA a few times with my truck and i have 15% all around, havent been stopped yet but can they stop me?
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Technically I think they can but doubt they would with out of state plates.
 
leftyguns21 said:
always curious...would CHP stop an out of state vehicle with 'illegal' tint? ive driven to CA a few times with my truck and i have 15% all around, havent been stopped yet but can they stop me?
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I don't think they can enforce CA regs on cars registered in other states - can you imagine them citing tourists for tint that were legal in their home states?

Personally, I run front tints & no front plates on my other car in CA. Both are ticketable offenses, but the car is registered in TX, my home of record. So far, I have never been stopped in CA. Technically, a front plate is mandatory in TX, but I don't expect CHP officers to know or enforce TX law. Come to think of it, no one in TX ever bothered me about not having a front plate, though.

My 4Runner was registered in CA by the dealer at purchase, but I'm pulling the front plate & fitting bumper plugs where they drilled. I will also tint the front windows. I'm moving to NC in the spring, and will probably re-register the car in TX when the CA registration expires.
 
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