WIndow Tint - 20 or 35% on sides?

[MCNE]

Well I'm finally going to have it done on my 96. The job is going to cost me 200 dollars with the back being one piece. My concern was going with 20% on the sides because I was told it was illegal in Missouri and probably in Illinois (might move). On other thing is visibility with 20% on the sides. I still have time to change my mind on the sides but the back will get 20%.



Questions:



1. Anyone have 20% tint on the sides that live in Chicago or St. Louis area? Any problems with the LAW!

2. Is 35% just too light to bother with?

3. Price sound about right?


Thanks,

MCNE

 

[JonM]

Check this out http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

 

[Ken]

I'm going to move this to the "C4 Mods" forum because it's not a stock, "technical" question.

 

[Last Ride]

I live between Chicago and Illinois, and if you live in IL, you are not allowed to have any tint on the side windows. That said, the law is selectively enforced. I had my front windows tinted on my surveillance vehicle (I do PI work), and drove around like that for months. It was pretty light tint (the lightest you could buy, actually), but one state trooper didn't care. The ticket got dismissed, but I took the tint off because I didn't want to be bothered. A few buddies have their's tinted so dark, they don't need curtains! Bottom line, I will probably be getting my '78 tinted all the way around eventually and just live with the tickets if and when they come. If you live in MO, I believe you will be okay. Go with whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Tinting is cool, but as you know laws vary greatly and being stopped for that alone really sucks, particularly if it leads to a more serious violation. But, and I can't talk % here I had some very dark tint on a car (totally illegal here, and I got stopped enough times that I finally got a ticket and removed it) it is VERY difficult driving with the stuff on the side windows when cornering dusk and later. You can not see obstructions and stuff. It's even hard during daylight hours under certain conditions.

 

[MCNE]

Yea I was concerned with the visibility. I think I might stick with the 35% on the sides and take my chances if I move to Chicago. Looking at the link that was provided I'll be fine in MO.



Thanks Everyone.

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Every car I have owned since the 80's I have tinted. The past few years they have been illegal in MA but until recently no one seemed to care. Got busted on my last state inspection !

I like the 20% stuff but the 35% is the legal limit here and that is what I have gone with. Even at 20% it isn't that bad to see at night.

Guess you have to check your laws and decide what you want.

 

[MCNE]

I love the look of the tint as well and decided on 35% on the sides & 20 in the rear. This is the first time I've ever left my car with any shop over night so I'm a little nervous. I'll get it back on Friday and see how it looks but I won’t hesitate to remove the tint if I have issues.

Then I'll be ready to tackle the exhaust upgrade. I think.



MCNE

 

[Deusxmachine]

I have 5% all the way @ on my coupe with a single piece on the hatch and a strip on the front. It only cost me 100 dollars. Its looks great and hasnt peeled or bubbled after about a year. The only problem i have with visibility is backing up at night, i have to roll the window down to see. Shop around i think you can get a better price.

 

[firedawg]

Alot of places also have a warantee available through Sun Guard (I think) it cost me around $50, covers against bubbles, scratches, discoloring, etc, but the biggest thing is if you get pulled over, you can take it back to where you got it tinted, have them take the tint off, get it inspected with no tint, and they will put new tint on for free! good deal for $50. You also have to keep in mind the tint that comes on the car from the factory, although VERY light, maybe like 90% or so, that adds to how dark your windows are... For example if you get 35% because that's the legal limit, your windows will auctally be darker than that once you add on the factory tint, making it illegal. Just something to keep in mind. I have never had a problem with any of my cars in MD

 

[militant_x]

Anyone know what the type of glass or ?tint? used on some new cars is? Like the glass on my friends 2002 camaro SS is a blueish green. It came like that from factory. Looks really nice, id like that for my car. It doesnt look like a tint though, you cant find a place where the film ends.

dont mean to steal your thread... its related

Thanks,

-Chris

 

[firedawg]

I think the stuff from the factory is some kind of dye or something that they put in the glass, not sure though, I think that's what I read somewhere. I know whatever it is, it is auctally IN the glass, not a film like tint, the same goes with the roof panals

 

[94conv.]

I live in Indiana and I have 20% on mine, its a convertible but with that huge windshield it tends to lighten it up some, I think with 35%, especially with a coupe, I think it would be too light. I had heard once that you should be able to read you license through it if you hold it right up to it. It was quite a few years ago when I heard that and I dont know if they really ever used that technique. so far I havent had any trouble. For Indiana, $200.00 sounds fair.

 

[phxraptor]

I just had my 81 done today. Took 30 minuets to do the door windows and another 7 hours to remove the old rear window tint(because he would not use a razor blade with the defroster lines). Got charcoal color(black) 35% on the doors,only state legal tint here on the front doors and limo in the rear. Don't know what % that is but I can tell you it is very hard to see anything in the rear compartment. Paid $200.00 which I thought was a good deal since the installer and his helper were perfectionests.

 

[Rich96c4ce]

Factory glazing for all the windows on passenger cars must let at least 70% of the light through according to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205, Glazing. For vehicles other than passenger cars, the glazing behind the driver may be any level from 0 to as high as technically possible (about 93%.) The glazing on motor vehicle is usually glass with tint in it. The darker factory tinted glazing may be tinted, or have a tinted ceramic or glass layer on one or both sides. My Ford Club Wagon has essentially clear glass with a tinted glass layer on the outside. Depending on the color, sheen, and other aesthetic issues that the mfg. wants to resolve, you can see dozens of compositions.

There is no tinting film used by new vehicle manufacturers; none of it will meet the necessary safety criteria. Besides light transmission, there are image distortion limits, weathering constraints, and injury prevention performance. As such, tinting film just doesn't make it.

Regarding aftermarket tint films, state laws and such, the tint film manufacturers' lobby has resolved that it would appear. Most states allow it despite documented safety reasons otherwise, seeing at night as mentioned by a few of you is a big concern. Police officer safety is another.

 

[froggy47]

I had sides tinted on my van & almost hit a guy on a bike I didn't see. Be careful.

 

[WhalePirot]

The factory glass is a sandwich of glass, separated by a sheet of some kind of plastic, which may be tinted.

The biggest issue from my tint comes when the top is off. The eyeballs, either with or w/o sunshades <ala MoonUnit> adjust to the brightness of no roof, which makes it hard to see thru the rear glass. Rear is a medium tint: sides are light. Neither lowered the inside temperature as I had hoped. Seems the darker glass absorbs heat more readily, which is radiated inward.

 

[MCNE]

Well it’s done! It really looks great! No problem seeing out the back during the day at all. I was worried about that since I often look over my shoulder before changing lanes. 35% looks ok on the sides but I also have black interior.



MCNE

 

[firedawg]

Glad to hear it turned out good, but I must tell you, now that you can't roll the windows down for 2 days, it'll be in the 70's those days, then when you can finally roll your windows down again, it'll either rain or get cold again! Happened to me last week when I got mine tinted.