tint on black 4runner

[josh220]

Re: me?

its limo tint so prob like 5%

Do you have this on your 2 front windows also? How is the visibility at night for checking your blind spots over your shoulders? Is it hard to see a car next to you? I am going to change out my 20% over factory tint to 5% over factory tint, so I am just curious. I don't want to have trouble seeing cars in my blind spot while on the freeway at night, but I want it darker than I have now. Even with 20% over factory tint, you can still see inside a little bit if the sun is in the right position. Thanks.

 

[Antwanj]

Re: Re: me?

Do you have this on your 2 front windows also? How is the visibility at night for checking your blind spots over your shoulders? Is it hard to see a car next to you? I am going to change out my 20% over factory tint to 5% over factory tint, so I am just curious. I don't want to have trouble seeing cars in my blind spot while on the freeway at night, but I want it darker than I have now. Even with 20% over factory tint, you can still see inside a little bit if the sun is in the right position. Thanks.

well... its definately harder to see but you will get used to it. I am now ablee to see pretty much fine at night. If i were you i would ask to see it on a car and maybe see it at night...

 

[josh220]

Re: Re: Re: me?

well... its definately harder to see but you will get used to it. I am now ablee to see pretty much fine at night. If i were you i would ask to see it on a car and maybe see it at night...

Alright thanks. I'm taking it back today to have the 35% taken off of my rear window, and replace it with 5%. I can always roll it down if I need to back up in a very dark area. As for 5% all around, I'll use the visibility from my back window as a reference as to whether or not I want to keep the 20% or go with 5%.

The next issue that would arise, is would I rather get my 2 front windows re-done for a 3rd time, and get them 5% to match all of the back windows, or keep them 20% and tint the front windshield to 35% to minimize the light that is let in. All in due time I guess.

 

[Techsan]

I agree with those above that said NOT to tint your entire windshield. You'll just be asking for a cop to pull you over...especially if you've got 35% on there.

 

[josh220]

I agree with those above that said NOT to tint your entire windshield. You'll just be asking for a cop to pull you over...especially if you've got 35% on there.

Putting 50% or 35% on my front windshield would be much less susceptible of getting pulled over than 5% on my 2 front side windows. 35% is still surprisingly light, and 50% would only tint it slightly, mostly just blocking out heat, and UV rays. 70% is the legal limit in CA, and if you have ever seen 70% tint, it's perfectly clear. So 50% isn't very far from that.

 

[antidentite]

I use to work in a tint shop and had my front windows tinted to match the roll-ups, which were all at 20%. I really liked the consistent look of the tint, although in Orange County, CA, the cops would definitely frown upon tinting windshields above and beyond just a strip.

What made me take it off is the liability in case I ever got in an accident. If I hit someone with a tinted windshield (even if it wasnt my fault), that person could claim that the tint obstructed my vision and caused the accident. I know that wouldnt be the case since I could see fine with it, but then the onus would be on me to prove otherwise.

I know that it doesnt obstruct your vision *that* much, it wont matter in a court of law.

So, while I certainly like the looks of tint all around, if you're going to tint your windshield just understand the risk your taking.

Putting 50% or 35% on my front windshield would be much less susceptible of getting pulled over than 5% on my 2 front side windows. 35% is still surprisingly light, and 50% would only tint it slightly, mostly just blocking out heat, and UV rays. 70% is the legal limit in CA, and if you have ever seen 70% tint, it's perfectly clear. So 50% isn't very far from that.

 

[josh220]

I use to work in a tint shop and had my front windows tinted to match the roll-ups, which were all at 20%. I really liked the consistent look of the tint, although in Orange County, CA, the cops would definitely frown upon tinting windshields above and beyond just a strip.

What made me take it off is the liability in case I ever got in an accident. If I hit someone with a tinted windshield (even if it wasnt my fault), that person could claim that the tint obstructed my vision and caused the accident. I know that wouldnt be the case since I could see fine with it, but then the onus would be on me to prove otherwise.

I know that it doesnt obstruct your vision *that* much, it wont matter in a court of law.

So, while I certainly like the looks of tint all around, if you're going to tint your windshield just understand the risk your taking.

Hm, okay, 4 inch strip it is then!! Haha thanks.

 

[antidentite]

I think that's a good call. I dont mean to scare you away from what you want to do, but I think it's good to know the possible pitfalls of doing so.

BTW - I love your black 4Runner and would also get it tinted pretty dark. I'd go with 5% all around, or 5% on the back window and 20% all around so that it looks consistent no matter which angle you're viewing it from.

Whatever you choose, take some pics for us of the final product.

Hm, okay, 4 inch strip it is then!! Haha thanks.

 

[josh220]

BTW - I love your black 4Runner and would also get it tinted pretty dark. I'd go with 5% all around, or 5% on the back window and 20% all around so that it looks consistent no matter which angle you're viewing it from.

Whatever you choose, take some pics for us of the final product.

It's already 5% on the back, and 20% all around, including the front. I think I may do 5% over the rear windows though, in place of the 20% that's on there now. The guy told me that 5% on the front windows will get me pulled over GUARANTEED, it would just be a matter of time, so I will probably leave the front windows at 20%.

 

[ImOnAPlain51]

I think tinted windows on black 4runners looks good. I just had my front windows done, the tint shop would only allow me to go to 35% though. It looks a lot better, just not as good as Antwanj's and Josh220s.

 

[josh220]

**sigh** I think I have spent more money on tint than any other mod. I am going back tomorrow, for what I believe to be my 4th trip back. I am having the 20% on my rear side windows taken off, and having 5% put on, for total privacy. I am also having a 4-inch strip of 5% put on the top of my front windshield. I will probably keep the 2 front windows at 20% for now, but may decide to go back yet again in the future.

Hopefully I am satisfied with 20% front, and 5% all around. Maybe if I'm lucky, the 5% strip will block out enough light to keep me satisfied with the 20% that is currently on the front.

A strong word of advice for those who are thinking about tinting for their first time. Always go AT LEAST 1 full shade darker than the salesperson recommends. After tomorrow my total will be somewhere around $689 on tinting, because I have had to take it back in so many times to go darker.

 

[r3dh3ad84]

Tint is a lot like a muffler or lift setup... if you skimp the first time and not go as big as you want or hope to... you'll regret it and eventually change it to bigger and better. So go dark, but not not on the windshield. My strip is about 1/2 inch past the A line and it is good at blocking out sun but not my view. I have 5% on the front strip, 20% on all the backs, and 35% on the driver and passenger. I speak from experience in saying go dark on your driver and passenger.. because I am eventually.

 

[dc.T4x4R]

A strong word of advice for those who are thinking about tinting for their first time. Always go AT LEAST 1 full shade darker than the salesperson recommends.

Couldn't agree more with you Josh220. I was worried that with already having a black Runner the tint wouldn't appear as dark as it actually was against the black paint, especially during the day. So I went with 5% front strip, 20% on the fronts, and 5% (limo) on top of the factory tint that runs around all sides/rear glass. I'm so glad that I went dark on the first time tinting. Definitely love the look of my Runner with blacked out windows.

 

[dieselwolf]

15% will look darker than the rear and you might have a harder time to see while you back up in the dark. I have to do that every night (my motorcycle parked behind the car) so I took the 15% off. The 20% is the closest match for the factory rear windows. I was pulled over for speeding by a state trooper last weekend and the cop did not say anything about the 20% tint.. I have the the llumar, it's much better quality than 3M, IMO. I paid $60 for the fronts..

 

[CheyRunner]

I wished I had gone 20%, it currently has 35%.

 

[4-Legged-Runner]

So is the factory tint considered 35%?? I want to match the fronts with the factory and I want to go DARK on the rear glass.

Thanks.

M

 

[CheyRunner]

Actually I believe the rears are 20%. My fronts are 35%, I wish I had gone darker on those.

 

[NCSCOTT]

I don't think all tints are created equal. I have 35% on my fronts and factory on the rears of my 08 and the fronts look slightly darker. They even pass an annual light transfer test for NC @ 35% +/- 3%.

My 04 has 35% also and it is obviously lighter than the back windows. I am think of having it retinted at the same place I had the 08 tinted. I wish I had the brand/manf. of the tint on the 08 to share. If I get the 04 retinted I will ask & post.

 

[tnarg88]

For my area, the legal is also 35% w/ a +/- 6% leeway. So can technically go as dark as 29% for the front which I did. I think it's perfect, not too light or too dark. All SUV's can go with any tint level for the rear and back so went with a 20% on back and 10% in rear. Think that combo works out pretty good all together.

 

[ShipOfFools]

Just got my front windows tinted to match the back. As some have said, there is a slight color difference between the front and back windows if you're inside the car, but it's only noticeable because I obsess over my car, and I already knew there would be a difference.

About the windshield tinting, that will be the next thing I do to mine. 50% tint on the windshield. My friend has it on his black Tundra, and it's just incredible. It's like a cave inside that truck. And he lives in a very strict part of Mississippi, law-enforcement wise, and he has never been hassled for it.