Window tinting help

G

Gstick

Member
I would like to get some window tinting done to my new TRD OR. I understand that the "ceramic film" reduces interior heat the best, but here is my dilema.

I only want the rear lift hatch window, the non-opening rear side windows and the rear seat, small "triangular" windows tinted for privacy. Probably 20% over top of the factory tint, which will possibly make these windows about 10%.

If I'm NOT tinting any other windows, would it be worth it to pay the extra for "ceramic" tint vs the cheaper died film ?

In other words, will the interior temps be reduced by only tinting the windows that I have listed above (with the ceramic) ?
 
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Gstick said:
In other words, will the interior temps be reduced by only tinting the windows that I have listed above (with the ceramic)?
Click to expand...

The short answer is "No".

The slightly longer answer is "Not indirectly, but directly" lol. If you're going to tint and worry about the heat, you should tint ALL the windows at least a little with a 100% UV blocker since the heat coming in from untinted windows will heat the whole car. The untinted windows will cause the most greenhouse heating effect since your rear windows are already privacy tinted via the glass itself being darker. Tinting helps the direct heat coming in from sunlight but overall the temperature of the interior will still rise because of the other untinted windows. If you're concerned about the windows being too dark, they do make tint that blocks UV without darkening the windows too much.

"Ceramic" is a marketing ploy to get a couple of extra bucks out of you. If you buy a good product (3M, etc.) or get the work done at a reputable place (Ziebart), you'll get the UV blocking you're after.

I hope this makes sense. Good luck.
 
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YES!!!! although if you tint all the remaining windows it would be a lot cooler I have all my windows tinted windshield included and it’s AMAZING I suggest getting the S9 which means you getting the most protection from the sun...where I live in the summer it averages 95 degrees so it’s almost a necessity for me best money you’ll spend especially if you live somewhere hot...


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There are several answers to this question.

Angelo is right and wrong at the same time.

Ceramic certainly isn't a scam. A decent ceramic product will give you a significant heat rejection without needing high tint levels. I generally use 70% ceramic tint and that provides a measurable heat reduction in the car while still allowing me to see at night and in parking garages while staying legal.

The big advantage of ceramic is the heat rejection without darkening, so you don't really need that since you want darkening.

Will more tint back there give you more heat rejection? Of course, but not to the point that you'll notice.

Like Angelo said, tint the front side windows with a ceramic tint and whatever you want in the back.

Filming the windshield is generally illegal in all states, but using ceramic tint on all other windows will give you a significant reduction in heat.

If you have a sunroof, don't forget to tint that as well.
 
Thank You all for the replies.

If I would tint ALL of the windows (except windshield) with 70% ceramic, would the rear windows (with factory tint) get slightly darker being covered over with 70% ?
 
I have 70 on the front, 50 on the a-b pillars, and 40 aft of the b pillar. No one has noticed the front being tinted unless they have polarized sunglasses, then there is a slight rainbow. The only way to notice if it’s darker than stock is to have it parked side by side with a stock 4Runner.

Go to a tint shop and they will have samples that you can put behind the window and see what it looks like and get what you want.

The #1 greenhouse window is the front windshield.
 
Adding ceramic tint like 3M Crystalline all around including the windshield is a great investment IMHO, with caveat mind state laws on tint % unless you "have a guy" to help pass inspections.

When driving with windows up and ac on it'll significantly help reduce potential for you to get hot and sun burnt.

When parking the car and letting it sit in the hot sun, the car will of course warm up to the point its thermal properties are in equilibrium with surroundings but it'll still protect the interior from UV protection.

Rear door and hatch glass will get darker with tint since they're already dyed from the factory.
 
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I did ceramic on the windshield, moonroof and front side windows. It was a great help with heat. Wish I had also done the rear windows too.

We have a new Sienna and did the same there, it really helps the heat. I went lightest on windshield and front side windows, darker on moonroof.
 
Gstick said:
I would like to get some window tinting done to my new TRD OR. I understand that the "ceramic film" reduces interior heat the best, but here is my dilema.

I only want the rear lift hatch window, the non-opening rear side windows and the rear seat, small "triangular" windows tinted for privacy. Probably 20% over top of the factory tint, which will possibly make these windows about 10%.

If I'm NOT tinting any other windows, would it be worth it to pay the extra for "ceramic" tint vs the cheaper died film ?

In other words, will the interior temps be reduced by only tinting the windows that I have listed above (with the ceramic) ?
Click to expand...

I used a product called clear blue 80 on the windshield. It blocks 80% of UV and it’s completely clear. Really helps the AC keep up and saves the dash, etc from the sun. It’s pricey around here but both tint places I’ve used carry it.
 
Gstick said:
Thank You all for the replies.

If I would tint ALL of the windows (except windshield) with 70% ceramic, would the rear windows (with factory tint) get slightly darker being covered over with 70% ?
Click to expand...
Of course. IIRC, the rears are somewhere around 35-40%, so a 70% tint will allow 70% of that 35 or 40% light to be transmitted - the effective tint will be
in the 24 to 28% but probably a bit less.

Tint shops (like cops) have tint meters and can show you what the light transmission will be.
 
This stuff is pretty awesome. My mom has it on her Cayenne that she parks outside and it made a huge difference in how hot it gets during the day (she lives in SoCal).

I'm getting it installed next week, 70% on every window:

Home (DUB IR tint)
 
You ever see those cars with the tint that looks like ��. It’s purple and pealing. That’s what cheap tint gets you.
 
Gstick said:
I would like to get some window tinting done to my new TRD OR. I understand that the "ceramic film" reduces interior heat the best, but here is my dilema.

I only want the rear lift hatch window, the non-opening rear side windows and the rear seat, small "triangular" windows tinted for privacy. Probably 20% over top of the factory tint, which will possibly make these windows about 10%.

If I'm NOT tinting any other windows, would it be worth it to pay the extra for "ceramic" tint vs the cheaper died film ?

In other words, will the interior temps be reduced by only tinting the windows that I have listed above (with the ceramic) ?
Click to expand...

Get this on the windshield:
Air Clear Window Tint Series | LLumar

I was initially skeptical about windshield tint, but after having it now, I'd never not have it... definitely worth the money.

Get good quality ceramic tint on all the rest... Buy once, cry once... You'll be peeling that dyed, cheap tint off in a couple years when it starts to fail, clouds up, bubbles and turns purple...

Get good tint the first time around. You definitely wont regret it... The whole vehicle shouldn't be more than $500.
 
Just as an aside, any film on the windshield is technically illegal in most (every?) states. That said, a properly installed totally clear film will most likely not cause you to fail inspection, but YMMV.
 
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