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Tint rating on Back Seat Windows to match front tint

timcosco

timcosco

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2002
Messages
559
Location
Larkspur, CO
Has anyone been able to find aftermarket window tint for the front sides that matches the OEM rear sides? Legality isn't a concern at the moment.
 
You should be able to get some deep tint at any window tinting place. I'd like to get mine tinted to match the rears, but I know that it will draw unnecessary attention from law enforcement around here, so I think this summer I'm going to get the deepest tint that's legal.
 
Hmm... yeah, I guess as long as the color matches, if the fronts are a little lighter to achieve legality, it should still look OK and probably be worth it.
 
I like the reflective properties of the rear but have yet to ever find a film that could match. Even on my old Tahoe.
 
timcosco,

I had my Av tinted last weekend with using Sunguard Tint. :D I had them use the 20% instead of the legal 35% that is required here in the state of MD. Now with the factory tint combined with the installed tint my windows are very dark (5 - 8%) and they match the back window pretty well. I know this isn't legal here but as long as you don?t do anything to bring attention to yourself, like speeding, or running day-glow lights, under your vehicle. You won?t have any problems.

You need remember one thing when you go to get your windows tinted, there are a lot of states that have laws that dictates how dark your allowed to make your windows and which even ones you can tint. If you want to stay within the boundaries of the law make sure you tell your installer you want you windows tinted to whatever that limit is. If you go in and tell the installer to tint your windows to 20% he might tint your windows using 20% tint. Now when you combine the percentage of what you windows were with your newly installed tint you?ll be at 5 ? 8%. That may or may not be what you actually wanted.

One last thing if you never drove with really dark tinted windows, be very careful until you get use to it, especially at night. When I got my first vehicle done way back when I all most ran over a guy at a crosswalk. I just didn?t see him till he smacked my fender with his hand to let me know he was there. The dark tinted windows are like wearing sunglasses at night, you can't see sh*t.
 
I believe here in NJ any tinting of the front driver and passenger windows, other than the original tint that the manufacturer installed is illegal....I'm not sure though...

I wouldn't mind going a little darker myself..
 
I believe that the legal limit is also 35% here in MA. I think it has to do with federal regulations, these vehicles are sold throughout north america and the windows are all the same so, states have to kinda accept this. In MA there are no restrictions to which side/back windows you can tint, but there are restrictions as to the height of the tint in the front measured from the top of the windshield. Anyways, Rad, what do you mean by the 5-8%? Are you saying that the front side windows already have a 5-8% tint? A local guy has already quoted me $65 to do front/side windows of a SUV which he does often. Just wanted some clarification before I proceed when the weather gets a little warmer. ;D
 
really, it doesn't take much to make cops around here stop you to check your tint. I have been pulled over 4 times in my bug, and passed all 4 times. If they see any customizing on your vehicle, and then tint, they automatically assume it is at an illegal limit. Sometimes I think Columbus cops are just there to make money for the city, and not to protect and serve.
 
Greetings, Honorable List Members. As an FYI, the rear glass is not tinted at all, it is simply a smoked glass. It provides NO protection from the sun's rays at all. I had mine tinted quite some time ago, and had it done the legal limit (I'm in FL). It is extremely dark in the rear and sides, and in fact you cannot see inside, even when standing next to the glass (unless in very bright sunlight). I had the front two windows done as well, and it looks superb. I also had the front windshield done with an anti-glare coating (applied as a piece of tint, but it is completely colorless/invisible). It works wonders at night, and even during the day you can tell a difference! :D

Cheers,
Justyn~
 
Kronk,

What I meant by 5 - 8% is the amount of light that the tint will allow into the vehicle. My back doors and my back window are that dark. I think Socrates and my windows are close to the same darkness. Unless you are right on top of the window with a bright light inside you won't see in. It's great for privacy, sleeping a you can leave stuff out an not worry about people spotting it. Plus I have a 4 month old and the tint is a great window shade! :D My front windows are at 20%, which does a good job. When somebody looks in during the day the only thing they see is a silhouette.

As for how cops are able to determine how dark your tint is, they use two methods that I know of. One method is that they have a card with some writing on it (looks like a credit card). They hold it on one side of your window and try to read it from the other side and if they can see it then you pass.
Another is a light meter. I never seen this one used but a cop friend of my told me about it. The way that one works is pretty basic. They shine a light through your tinted window and measure it with a meter on the opposite side. The meter will indicate how the precentage of light. Like I said earlier cops won't go after you just for tint in this area, but if they stop you for some other violation is when they will get you for the tint. What I do if I get stop for speeding or something to that nature is as soon as I pull over I roll my windows down. It doesn't matter if it's freezing or if it's raining I just roll them down so they can see me and my hands. When I was living in Fla. a several cops/troopers were shot when they walked up on a tint vehicle. The driver would wait till the cop was at their door then they would roll down their window and BANG, officer down. Cops became real leary about walking up on a tinted vehicle. I would be too if I couldn't see inside a vehicle and that is why I roll my windows down right away if I get stopped. I have had illegal tint on all of my vehicles here and in Fla. I haven't gotten a maintenance ticket yet to rip out my tint.
 
Socrates,

The anti-glare that you put on your front window is that something new. Like within the last couple of years?
Correct me if I am wrong but I am guessing that the installation of the anti- glare coating is on the inside?
 
I went with 35% on both front side windows, which is the legal max here in TN. Doesn't quite match the back windows (a little lighter), but looks good and I pleased with the result. I think it;s certainly worth doing.
Ave
 
Rad Tech said:
Socrates,

The anti-glare that you put on your front window is that something new. ?Like within the last couple of years? ?
Correct me if I am wrong but I am guessing that the installation of the anti- glare coating is on the inside? ?
Click to expand...


Actually, from what I have gathered, it has been around for the past 5 years (at least). Many tint shops do not mention it, but I was convinced after checking out another vehicle that was owned by a Truck/SUV custom shop. Upon looking through it, and then directly at the sun, a very noticable difference could be seen. At night, it's unbelievable! The glare is reduced dramatically. Yes, you are correct, it is applied on the inside, and sometimes can be tricky to get it completely straight (I was told sometimes it can take several tries on certain vehicles, luckily only one for mine). :)

Cheers,
Justyn~
 
Rad Tech said:
Kronk,

What I meant by 5 - 8% is the amount of light that the tint will allow into the vehicle. ?My back doors and my back window are that dark. ?I think Socrates and my windows are close to the same darkness. ?Unless you are right on top of the window with a bright light inside you won't see in. ?It's great for privacy, sleeping a you can leave stuff out an not worry about people spotting it. ?Plus I have a 4 month old and the tint is a great window shade! ?:D ?My front windows are at 20%, which does a good job. ?When somebody looks in during the day the only thing they see is a silhouette. ?

As for how cops are able to determine ?how dark your tint is, they use two methods that I know of. ?One method is that they have a card with some writing on it (looks like a credit card). ?They hold it on one side of your window and try to read it from the other side and if they can see it then you pass.
Another is a light meter. ?I never seen this one used but a cop friend of my told me about it. ?The way that one works is pretty basic. ?They shine a light through your tinted window and measure it with a meter on the opposite side. ?The meter will indicate how the precentage of light. ? Like I said earlier cops won't go after you just for tint in this area, but if they stop you for some other violation is when they will get you for the tint. ?What I do if I get stop for speeding or something to that nature is as soon as I pull over I roll my windows down. ?It doesn't matter if it's freezing or if it's raining I just roll them down so they can see me and my hands. ?When I was living in Fla. a several cops/troopers were shot when they walked up on a tint vehicle. ?The driver would wait till the cop was at their door then they would roll down their window and BANG, officer down. ?Cops became real leary about walking up on a tinted vehicle. ?I would be too if I couldn't see inside a vehicle and that is why I roll my windows down right away if I get stopped. ?I have had illegal tint on all of my vehicles here and in Fla. ?I haven't gotten a maintenance ticket yet to rip out my tint. ?
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Exactly! I love the privacy! Also, yes, during the day, nothing but a silhouette. ;)

-Justyn
 
Socrates,

Thanks for the info and recommendation on the anti-glare film. I going have to talk to the tinting boys at the shop to see if they are up to speed on this. I am hoping it's not just a Fla thing. But then again that wouldn't be a bad thing either. Sounds like a road trip to me!! :D :D

Oh, by the way what part of Fla are you in? I still have a house in the Ocala area.
 
Thanks for the reply Rad. I was a bit confused about the numbers. I didn't realize that you did the back windows beyond factory. I will probably just go for the best match with the back factory color, or as close as I can get. Good find on the anti-glare. I'm curious about how much my local shop will charge if they even do it at all. I'll let everyone know what I find..
 
Rad Tech said:
Socrates,

Thanks for the info and recommendation on the anti-glare film. ?I going have to talk to the tinting boys at the shop to see if they are up to speed on this. ?I am hoping it's not just a Fla thing. ?But then again that wouldn't be a bad thing either. ?Sounds like a road trip to me!! ?:D :D ?

Oh, by the way what part of Fla are you in? ?I still have a house in the Ocala area. ?
Click to expand...

Hey, Rad Tech! I'm actually in Lakeland, halfway between Orlando and Tampa. :) As for the anti-glare, you should be able to find someone locally, as this stuff is quite common from what I am told, but you never know! You could always take a road trip to Lakeland! :p

Cheers,
Justyn~
 
I had my front window tinted. They are very close to the rear factory tint. 50 bucks.. Factory tint is all you can have in Calif on the front windows..







Summit White 2500 4X4
 
Here in Louisiana the front doors can be 50%, just go mine tinted last week and the guy put 20% on the windows, titanium is all i use on my vehicles as the old type tends to turn purple after a while. He still put the sticker to show the 50% level, but like mentioned earlier if you draw attention to yourself it just gives them another reason to check you out. Here the guy said the cops will give you a warning and you have to rip the stuff off and go back by the station and have them check it off and clear ticket and you do not have to pay anything, but if they catch you again they can fine you.
Did back window in limo at 5%..........
ZEEYA
 
Socrates,

I been in your neck of the woods before but it's been years. I use to go to college in Tampa many years ago. And back in those days a bunch of use use to run rampant through the bars all through that area.

As for a road trip it looks like I will be making one a lot sooner than I expected. I will be driving to the Ocala area on family business next week. Unfortunetely, I will only be home for about 3 days and it will be back up the road to MD. This will be a good road test for the Av!

Thanks for looking into the anti-glare film. I think that would a great addition to any vehicle especially for those of us that drive at night!

 
Why don't you just black out the fronts and the backs. If legality is not a concern, the easiest way to acheive uniformity would be to black both the fronts and backs ???.

 
In N.J. any tinting of windows that was not factory is not legal. I tinted the fronts anyway just not as dark to match the backs. This way, the windows block much of the light, but are not quit as eye catching to the authorities. They still look good, are functional and do not raise the flags.
 
I would like to tint my windows to match, and do not want constant hassles :E: from the state or local federales - any Wisconsin owners with this mod pls help !!!!!
 
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