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Window Tint Options...Pros/Cons, Etc.

cc1999

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I was always told the rear windows were about 20% and I use a high grade ceramic 20% on my front windows to get the best match. Least that’s always worked for me.
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CACTUSGREYFX4

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I went dark as I can and the brow also.

Drv side view tint tonneau cover.webp
 

stemplar

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A couple decades ago one of my coworkers had window tint (way too dark) installed at the fire station we worked at. Heading home at the end of that same shift a state trooper pulled him over and made my coworker scrape it off!! Didn't even make it 24 hours.
I've said in other threads on this topic that police around here pay very close attention to window tint when there are deer strikes, and if you have illegal tint you get fined and they also make a note of who inspected your car. It's getting harder to pass inspection with dark tint, especially on the windshield. But since I've made that comment they've said that it's not just deer strikes anymore; there are elevated numbers of accidents in intersections and especially school zones where at least one vehicle has tinted windows and/or a tinted windshield. The latter is what seems to be pissing them off the most, and when they see that they look for aftermarket lights and ticket for them too. I don't know if folks have been complaining about being blinded, but whether that's the case or not, they're not sympathetic to drivers who tint their windshields then compensate with illegally bright and often improperly aimed lights. There is also legislation (that may or may not pass) to crack down on window and windshield tinting because apparently the accident statistics aren't just a local issue.
 
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waffleso_0

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A couple decades ago one of my coworkers had window tint (way too dark) installed at the fire station we worked at. Heading home at the end of that same shift a state trooper pulled him over and made my coworker scrape it off!! Didn't even make it 24 hours.
Yeah it seems states that have endless sun, (west coast) dont get bothered unless the cop wants to jam you up for others things.
 

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waffleso_0

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I was always told the rear windows were about 20% and I use a high grade ceramic 20% on my front windows to get the best match. Least that’s always worked for me.
That's correct. Factory tint are ~20% and if you add 15% to those you will get ~ 3-5% tint. If you add 5% to those you will be limo tint basically and very dark.

15% all around is perfect balance!
 

ericsmr

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Yeah it seems states that have endless sun, (west coast) dont get bothered unless the cop wants to jam you up for others things.
Same here, had 5% all around for 10 years and was pulled over several times, never mentioned the tint
 

Onceaneagle

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Before film and after film pictures attached. Installers used a light meter before and it was 20% factory tint. Surprised me. So I put on 20% VLT XPEL Nano Ceramic film. Did the windshield at 70% VLT; 55 VLT was too dark for me at night. You get 99% UV block with any shade of Nano ceramic and the amount of heat deflection is per what level of film you pay for regardless of shade. BTW, I know a small town installer who does her city's police cars, many County and State police vehicles, fire and rescue, EMT, and the privately owned cars of those folks plus her Mayor, city council, car dealers, and TV and radio persons. Not one of the windows in any of those vehicles is Kansas law legal but it is still up to law enforcement in your area.

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20260106_125800 (1).webp
 

BEEZ1665

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What percent are the factory rear windows? I want to keep effectively that same darkness, but up front as well. As I want to put an effectively clear film on the rear (90%?) for UV protection, I imagine it will make the rears just a tiny bit darker? I don't want to be able to tell any difference in tint front to back. Would that land me at maybe 30% all around?
Hi, just dropped my ‘26 off at tint shop yesterday and the tech measured my rear pax window tint with a meter and they were right at 27% I am going with a bit darker on front sides and a brow @ 5% ( do this with all my rigs and really like the reduced sun glare) hope that helps
 

spazzyfry123

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Hi, just dropped my ‘26 off at tint shop yesterday and the tech measured my rear pax window tint with a meter and they were right at 27% I am going with a bit darker on front sides and a brow @ 5% ( do this with all my rigs and really like the reduced sun glare) hope that helps
Thanks!!
 

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Onceaneagle

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Unit 91

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I have XPEL XR Plus at 35% on all the windows. Same as we have on all of our cars. It keeps the inside so much cooler.

Windshields also have film, but went with Llumar 80%. XPEL only offered a 70% that had a slight blue to it, which I didn't want. You can't tell the front is tinted, but the heat rejection is fantastic. So worth it.
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