window tint

[shifthis]

I have an 06 and live in arizona. The dealer tinted my window as part of the deal when purchasing. I told them I wanted it as dark as legal all the way around. so now I am going to have my 05 tinted also by a seperate shop. I talked to the guy and told him that I wanted my other 4runner to look like the 06. so he tested my windows and the back is 1.8% and the front is 21%. 35% is what is legal in arizona for the front. My question is from a 05 to an 06 is the stock window tint about the same and also does the front window have any tint on it at all. I am not sure if i should tell the guy to put 35% on the front window and it will turn out at 21% or if I should just tell him to put 20% on the front window. I don't want a huge difference from the front to the back.

 

[eskimochaos]

Back tint is the same.

Common sense would tell, by looking through the front windows, that there is no window tint......

 

[shifthis]

Have you tested your front window after having it done? is it truly 20%? I just don't want to say 20% and it come out darker. I realize the guy today, the guage can be off but mine was reading at 21%. I guess I just find it odd that the dealership would put 20% on the front when that isn't legal. I don't care I just wanna know for my other truck. Small pic but my 06 is in my avatar you can kind of see the difference front to back.

 

[eskimochaos]

Have you tested your front window after having it done? is it truly 20%? I just don't want to say 20% and it come out darker. I realize the guy today, the guage can be off but mine was reading at 21%. I guess I just find it odd that the dealership would put 20% on the front when that isn't legal. I don't care I just wanna know for my other truck.

No I didnt.

Everything in NJ is illegal on the front so whats the point.

 

[HB 4X4]

Technically there is no tint front or rear from the factory. The rear is just darkened glass (inside the glass rather than a coating) and does not offer any UV or heat protection.

That being said, the front windows have a green hue to them, even if you don't notice it. If you go too dark on the tint with lower quality material (99% of tint shops) they will look extremely green with the tint. Staying in the 20-30% range will be fine. The most common low quality film is 3M.

Whatever % you put on the front is what you'll get. But it also comes down to the quality of film you are getting.

I have 5% on my front windows when 70% is the legal limit in CA. You will be absolutely fine with 20% when 35% is the legal limit. Do what you feel will make your truck more comfortable.

 

[eskimochaos]

Technically there is no tint front or rear from the factory. The rear is just darkened glass (inside the glass rather than a coating) and does not offer any UV or heat protection.

That being said, the front windows have a green hue to them, even if you don't notice it. If you go too dark on the tint with lower quality material (99% of tint shops) they will look extremely green with the tint. Staying in the 20-30% range will be fine. The most common low quality film is 3M.

Whatever % you put on the front is what you'll get. But it also comes down to the quality of film you are getting.

I have 5% on my front windows when 70% is the legal limit in CA. You will be absolutely fine with 20% when 35% is the legal limit. Do what you feel will make your truck more comfortable.

What is a high quality tint since your the guru?

I believe my installer used Sungard. It has a lifetime warranty.

 

[HB 4X4]

What is a high quality tint since your the guru?

I believe my installer used Sungard. It has a lifetime warranty.

Formula One is the best out there IMO. Huper Optic is one of the higher end brands as well.

I've never heard of Sun-Gard. You can judge for yourself. When you are parked with the sun coming through one of your windows, what color is the light on your seats? Is the color distorted in any way? (Red, green, purple, etc).

Life-Time warranties are often just marketing ploys. Only covering against bubbling, peeling, etc. It has nothing to do with the quality of the film.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Technically there is no tint front or rear from the factory. The rear is just darkened glass (inside the glass rather than a coating) and does not offer any UV or heat protection.

That being said, the front windows have a green hue to them, even if you don't notice it. If you go too dark on the tint with lower quality material (99% of tint shops) they will look extremely green with the tint. Staying in the 20-30% range will be fine. The most common low quality film is 3M.

Whatever % you put on the front is what you'll get. But it also comes down to the quality of film you are getting.

I have 5% on my front windows when 70% is the legal limit in CA. You will be absolutely fine with 20% when 35% is the legal limit. Do what you feel will make your truck more comfortable.

3M low quality? No way. I don't know where you got that from, but you're wrong.

I have 5% 3M on mine and it is not green by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[shifthis]

Ya, I'm not sure what the dealership uses but I do have that purple look through the back window. The guy I talked to today I believe they use 3M. So I should be good with the 20% on the front.

 

[HB 4X4]

3M low quality? No way. I don't know where you got that from, but you're wrong.

I have 5% 3M on mine and it is not green by any stretch of the imagination.

Yep, 3M is the standard "cheap" film. There's a reason you can tint your entire truck for under $150 with 3M unless the shop rips you off.

It doesn't look green now, but if you had another tint next to it you would see how green it really is. I had 3M on my rear windows and Formula one on my fronts and I ended up re-tinting the entire rear because the discoloration drove me crazy.

It's one of those things that you'll never notice unless you have something to compare it to.

Here's a good example: I'm not sure if you snowboard or ski, but goggles are made with different colored lenses for different conditions (sun, snow, overcast, etc). After you wear them, you don't notice they are discolored any longer. Same effect with window tint. You don't notice it because you have nothing to compare it to.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Cheap is relative. In my opinion cheap tint is the stuff that turns purple after a year or so. 3M is still quality film.

I've had plenty of people ride with my and nobody has ever said it looked green.

I guess what I'm saying is that 3M is fine for pretty much everyone except people who feel like paying two or three times more.

Are you saying it looks green from the inside looking out?

I haven't noticed that either.

 

[HB 4X4]

Cheap is relative. In my opinion cheap tint is the stuff that turns purple after a year or so. 3M is still quality film.

I've had plenty of people ride with my and nobody has ever said it looked green.

I guess what I'm saying is that 3M is fine for pretty much everyone except people who feel like paying two or three times more.

Are you saying it looks green from the inside looking out?

I haven't noticed that either.

It's green from the inside, not the outside unless you have 5% on the fronts then it's green from the outside as well.

You're right, it is relative. I never said anything to the contrary. Some people are totally fine with it. However, that has no relevance to the fact that 3M is the standard for cheaper films.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

That is 5% on the front and back windows. Ehh, I'll take my "cheap" film all day. No need to spend three times the cost for the same outcome.

But back to the OP, 20% should look good. Post some pictures when you get it done.

 

[shifthis]

so I am defenitely doing 20% on the front now. but with the stock rear being about 35% should I do 20% over that or 5%? My other truck is in my avatar and the end result reading is 1.8% for the rear. I don't want it any darker than that.

 

[HB 4X4]

That is 5% on the front and back windows. Ehh, I'll take my "cheap" film all day. No need to spend three times the cost for the same outcome.

But back to the OP, 20% should look good. Post some pictures when you get it done.

There's some definite discoloration on the front window, but yours almost looks red-ish in that light. It's hard because it's partially in the shade and the reflections are busy/cluttered.

Also keep in mind you drive a much older vehicle. The glass may differ (hence causing them to be red rather than green). With 4th Gen's you get green (this may be something attributed with the material used in the glass of newer vehicles). I have seen it on mine, I have seen it on BlairB's, and I have seen it on numerous other vehicles. The shop I re-did my tint at see's and fixes green tint on a daily basis.

If you are happy with your tint, then that's all that matters. However, the facts still remain regardless of your opinions.

OP, with 20% over the stock rear glass you will still be able to see inside the vehicle fairly easy. If you want privacy, go with 5%. Just keep in mind you will have slightly less visibility.

 

[shifthis]

ok, most likely go with 5% in the back then. Getting it done tomorrow. I let ya know how it turns out.

 

[galactic_04]

ok, most likely go with 5% in the back then. Getting it done tomorrow. I let ya know how it turns out.

The one problem I had with 5% is that it's REALLY hard to see out of on unlit streets at night. ON the front windows of my friend's car I had to roll down the windows at night just to turn in his neighborhood... annoying enough that I went with 20% and it's just about perfect all around. I'm sticking with my lumix 20% when I do this truck.

Honestly, just ask the tint place if it's a metallic tint. The metallic tints will have a lot better chance at lasting.

 

[shifthis]

just got done, I guess he actually used suntek tint. it looks really good. I will have to compare to my other 4runner when I get home. The front seems pretty dark but its also raining so that could be the reason.

 

[webby]

I have an 06 and live in arizona. The dealer tinted my window as part of the deal when purchasing. I told them I wanted it as dark as legal all the way around. so now I am going to have my 05 tinted also by a seperate shop. I talked to the guy and told him that I wanted my other 4runner to look like the 06. so he tested my windows and the back is 1.8% and the front is 21%. 35% is what is legal in arizona for the front. My question is from a 05 to an 06 is the stock window tint about the same and also does the front window have any tint on it at all. I am not sure if i should tell the guy to put 35% on the front window and it will turn out at 21% or if I should just tell him to put 20% on the front window. I don't want a huge difference from the front to the back.

I see you are in Gilbert, so maybe this is too far for you, but I have used Razor's Edge at 40th St & Greenway for two cars, the last being my 4th Gen, and they use high quality materials, and know the AZ law. Personally, I did max legal on the two front windows (also legal in CA) and added the same tint level to the rest of the side windows and the back window, to darken them up. I'd recommend you go see them if it isn't too far for you.

 

[shifthis]

I work in the scottsdale airpark so that is not far from me. I had airpark tint do it in the airpark. I am happy with it so far.