Window tint

[markayash]

What kind of cost has it been to have the side and back window tinted in recent times. It has been over 15 years or more since I have had any windows tinted.

BD

One shop told me $400 for ceramic if I don't do the windshield. Haven't priced around to see if that's competitive

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[markayash]

Lots of good input here.

I like the idea of putting the parking decal on a placard or something, to put in the dash. As long as they have a clear view of the permit and can confirm it's correct, you should be fine.

Skye's sides and back are using a ceramic tint. 30% of the outside, visible light arrives inside, the legal state limit. As others have mentioned, near 100% UV blockage. Consider the rear window alone is like a Sky (not Skye ) light; it's near flat.

Skye's entire windshield is using a ceramic tint. 70% of the outside, visible light arrives inside, which is illegal. By the law, I can do whatever I want down to the "ASI" marker on the windshield, but go no lower.

They do make windshield ceramic tint 80% (most vehicles from factory).

One benefit of ceramic tint is, while it blocks UV rays, it does not interfere with polarized lenses, cell and radio signals.

Attached are some photos.

The outside photos were taken in full daylight. The garage, at night.

While the windshield is illegal, what anyone sees is subjective. You can Google for the effects, but the same car, same tint, will look different, given one has a white interior and the other black. And the actual viewing angle, as you can see. Anyone checking would need an actual light meter. There's no other way to tell.

Discuss all these issues with the detailer and check some of their work. They should have some displays available on the different types, may even give you a junk piece to try out.

Shops will install whatever you can pay for, so read up on any laws in your state.

Being in Atlanta , you should notice a big difference. Best Wishes on the install.

Thanks, we also spend a lot of time on the Ga coast and have to park in a open lot. I have a covercraft windshield shield and it was almost too host to touch earlier in the week but helps a lot.

 

[Buldawg76]

Actually that is a big misconception about tint for your windshield. I tinted for 15 years before I retired almost 2 weeks ago. Even the best full ceramic film on the market, and I will go on record as to say in my opinion that would be 3M Crystalline, will not reject the amount of heat/sun light that a reflective sun shade will. That said, if you have it on the windows you will not feel the sun beating in on you while you are driving, BUT if you keep your car locked up tight outside in the sun, ie windows all the way up, with no sun shade, when you open the car to get in, it will still be HOT as hell in the car. People use to call us after they got their ceramic film and would say "man it is still hot in my car" and then we would have to explain this very thing. Every vehicle we own has full ceramic film everywhere including the windshields, but when they are out in the sun, you have to crack the windows to let the heat escape. I love to hear other people perspectives or thoughts on window tint, but I simply did it for too many years not to know what I am talking about. I am not saying ceramic tint don't help or work, but there are other things you must do to achieve a required result. Tint alone will NOT do it.

And for the record, unless the law has changed within the last 2 weeks, ANY % of tint on the full windshield of any vehicle is ILLEGAL in ALL 50 states. Some 80%'s and 70%'s are undetectable to the human eye, but if you run into an inspector who knows what to look for and is having a bad day, you WILL/CAN fail inspection. We had people who we did 70% for actually have their inspection failed simply because their inspector was having a bad day. I know it sucks, trust me, but it does happen.

Luckily, I live in an inspection free state so no worries about getting dinged for windshield tint except from LEOs.

I do understand about the car getting hot inside regardless of % tint applied so that's not a concern for me as far as complaining to tinter about it. When its 100+ degrees outside anything you touch is going to be hot as Hell.

I also have the UPR/Hurst shifter in my car in all black and it gets scalding hot, so I keep a Crown Royal mini bottle bag over the handle to keep it where it does not come in contact with my hand at all, problem solved.

I don't want the tint so dark it's hard to see out of at night since I had that issue with the 97 maxima and would have to roll windows down to see better in the country with no streetlights around.

BD

 

[bayguy]

I believe most if not all states make it illegal to tint the front windshield. But, an 80% or even a 70% looks stock. Get it in ceramic and you’ll be fine, nobody will even notice

I'm over in Cali (bay area) and have never been pulled over, had my car a year now. I think cops around here have better things to do luckily. I'm pretty sure the shop just never told me it was illegal..

 

[markayash]

Luckily, I live in an inspection free state so no worries about getting dinged for windshield tint except from LEOs.

I do understand about the car getting hot inside regardless of % tint applied so that's not a concern for me as far as complaining to tinter about it. When its 100+ degrees outside anything you touch is going to be hot as Hell.

I also have the UPR/Hurst shifter in my car in all black and it gets scalding hot, so I keep a Crown Royal mini bottle bag over the handle to keep it where it does not come in contact with my hand at all, problem solved.

I don't want the tint so dark it's hard to see out of at night since I had that issue with the 97 maxima and would have to roll windows down to see better in the country with no streetlights around.

BD

I also don't like dark tint. Will se what they suggest.

 

[skinnyb]

I do agree on the dark tint especially at night. I much prefer 20% but my tint guy was out the day I took my car. It was 35 or 5 that day. I went 5. It looks killer, but is a pain at night. Lots of rolling down the windows to see in the dark LOL...

 

[Evolvd]

If you have a convertible I wouldn't tint the front if you do any driving at night with the top down. You will not see at all as a friend of mine found out the hard way.

I have 50% on my convertible windshield and I drove to work this morning with the top down while it was pitch black outside. No issues at all. Under street lights made no difference either.

 

[-RAC-]

I have 50% on my convertible windshield and I drove to work this morning with the top down while it was pitch black outside. No issues at all. Under street lights made no difference either.

Interesting. My friends convertible must have a different type of film. It is very dark tint. The reflection from the back lights was mirrored back to a point he couldn't see to drive.

 

[Johnny Rockit]

How much is a ceramic tint job going for now?

 

[Evolvd]

Interesting. My friends convertible must have a different type of film. It is very dark tint. The reflection from the back lights was mirrored back to a point he couldn't see to drive.

I’m sure it had something to do with it. Your post had me worried about it until I left for work at 5AM this morning. But driving down dark back roads and under city street lights didn’t affect my vision at all.

 

[Evolvd]

How much is a ceramic tint job going for now?

That’s entirely dependent on the installer, the quality of film, and even the level of film from the same manufacturer. Xpel XR Prime Plus is significantly more cost than the XR Prime. Almost twice as much in my area.

 

[Johnny Rockit]

Ballpark price would be cool. I know nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap.

 

[Evolvd]

Ballpark price would be cool. I know nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap.

$300-800 is ballpark. Again, it all depends on the installer, the tint brand, and even your location. If there’s a ton of tint shops around you competing for your business it might be cheaper than a town with only a couple.

 

[Johnny Rockit]

That's reasonable. I use a shade but have not thought about tint until now. If I don't use the shade on a hot sunny day my rear dash camera will be hanging by the cable.

 

[MAGS1]

Ballpark price would be cool. I know nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap.

Mine was $425 (correction from one of my earlier posts that said $400, I found the receipt). Side windows and rear, Xpel XR Prime Plus. The front windshield would’ve added another $300 (again, correction from my previous post, quoted XR Prime price. Sorry I’m under the weather and brain isn’t functioning 100%). Subtract $100 for each for XR Prime, so $325 sides & rear and $200 front windshield.

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