30% Tint All Around, Too Light, Too Dark, Or Just Enough For The Back?

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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. 30% tint all around, too light, too dark, or just enough for the back?

• Thread starter The_Observer
• Start date Feb 29, 2020

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The_Observer

Member

Feb 14, 2020 851 563 Los Angeles Hey guys/gals, Just setup an appointment to tint my car in the next few days, I agreed on 30% tint all around, and 80% on front windshield. I am not sure if I want darker tint on the back side windows and the back window at 20%, since that's the 2nd lowest option other than 5%, which I don't want since that's too much. Should I just stick with 30% all around, or should I go with 30% front, and 20% for the back windows? What do you guys think?

Candleflame

Active Member

Mar 9, 2015 4,607 2,644 QLD, Australia I have 35% front side windows and 25% rear side windows. Don't do it. Looks stupid, just go 30% all around or whatever you fancy. I sort of knew this before and hoped they'd do 35% all around but unfortunately they sort of assumed that I wanted the darkest legal tint I guess... If you want limo tint look with white interior as you can see 25% is essentially enough, with 35% you can still see a bit inside.

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RandomSample

Member

Jan 4, 2020 24 26 California There is a thread over in Interior & Exterior that shows some examples. Tint 35% vs 50% vs Leave it alone

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Livex

Member

May 14, 2019 29 13 Denver I went with 30% all around. No regrets

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• 64EE7FF8-6795-4028-BC31-6B0E43FE9E9F.jpeg 713 KB · Views: 11,820

I<3URANUS

Member

Dec 9, 2019 134 125 Dallas That's what I did with mine.

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doktorek

New Member

Feb 29, 2020 3 2 NYC 20% is a sweet spot but it maybe illegal in some states. 35% should be ok in most states but its like hardly having anything on in my taste.

lottadot

Member

Oct 28, 2019 25 17 Frisco, TX I went with clear U/V on the front, 30% the rest. Which I'd gone darker to 25% or even 20%. View media item 120997 T

The_Observer

Member

Feb 14, 2020 851 563 Los Angeles

I<3URANUS said: That's what I did with mine. View attachment 516384 Click to expand...

What percentage of tint is this?

lottadot said: I went with clear U/V on the front, 30% the rest. Which I'd gone darker to 25% or even 20%. View media item 120997 Click to expand...

It seems that I don't have permission to see the pictures, perhaps you can send it another way.

bondo

Member

Dec 4, 2019 77 44 SF Bay Area

RandomSample said: There is a thread over in Interior & Exterior that shows some examples. Tint 35% vs 50% vs Leave it alone Click to expand...

If you have a dark interior it'll look darker. just something to consider.

kbecks13

Active Member

Dec 27, 2017 1,990 2,458 SoCal I did 30% on the sides, kinda wish it was a tad bit lighter but not a big deal. Definitely agree to stick with one percentage for both front and rear side windows tho

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Jay24

Member

Feb 6, 2020 67 76 PDX I plan on doing 18% all around (minus windshield obviously). My other cars are all 24% and not quite as dark as I’d like, so 18% should be perfect with the black interior. 24% is the legal limit here, but it doesn’t seem to really be enforced at all.

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kirbo20

Member

Oct 24, 2018 245 189 Lafayette, IN My first model 3 was done at 30% all the way around including the back glass with nothing on the windshield and it was too light in my opinion and I had black interior. My second model 3 we did 20% on the sides and 15 on the back. With white interior it is perfect in my opinion. A

acarney

Active Member

Jul 9, 2019 3,518 2,360 Richland, WA I personally like the same shade on front and rear side windows so it looks uniform. I got Xpel 30 or 35% (can’t remember) on the side windows and with my white interior you can’t really tell to much visually. I would suggest 20% with the bright white interior and maybe 30% for black interior. I also didn’t have them bother with the rear window because there were reports of cracking around when I got my car. I highly doubt it’s because of the tint, but I wasn’t going to tempt it, plus I want maximum visibility out the rear at all times (day/night/bad weather). I honestly don’t even notice it now since so much of the top glass is tinted and has the smooth gradient to the non-tinted bottom rear portion. I probably also saved some money... Edit: I’m absolutely a rule follower normally, but I’m SO happy I got 78% or whatever on the windshield. It looks crystal clear still and I don’t think anyone would even question if it’s tinted (it’s that light) BUT the heat rejection is HUGE. I’m so impressed on a hot hot day that the sun can be beating in and you don’t feel it on your face or hands or anything. It DOES heat the glass though, which is part of the speculation on the rear cracking. If you put your hand about half an inch away from the windshield inside you can feel heat radiating off it. Of course there would be some self beating anyway, but this is really adding to it since almost all the heat energy is absorbed by the film rather than being reflected. (Most films are very low reflection)

TyH2009

Member

Apr 12, 2019 596 686 St. Louis 30% is too light IMO. But whatever you do, do the same on front as on the back. I did 18% all around and 50% on the windshield and love it. Probably too dark for some, and yes it’s illegal, but no f’s given.

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Jay24

Member

Feb 6, 2020 67 76 PDX

TyH2009 said: 30% is too light IMO. But whatever you do, do the same on front as on the back. I did 18% all around and 50% on the windshield and love it. Probably too dark for some, and yes it’s illegal, but no f’s given Click to expand...

Love it. Have you found that the 50% on your windshield causes any issues at all with the front camera? The place I use for tinting said they won’t do the windshield due to problems it can cause.

kbecks13

Active Member

Dec 27, 2017 1,990 2,458 SoCal

Jay24 said: Have you found that the 50% on your windshield causes any issues at all with the front camera? The place I use for tinting said they won’t do the windshield due to problems it can cause. Click to expand...

Dont tint over the cameras, most places put it around the camera housing. Also make sure it doesn't extend too close to the cameras or you can have problems, see this thread: Winshield tint caused dashcam to fail?

Candleflame

Active Member

Mar 9, 2015 4,607 2,644 QLD, Australia

TyH2009 said: 30% is too light IMO. But whatever you do, do the same on front as on the back. I did 18% all around and 50% on the windshield and love it. Probably too dark for some, and yes it’s illegal, but no f’s given. View attachment 516613 View attachment 516615 Click to expand...

50% on the windshield. Jesus. I knew the legislation in america is lax but are you allowed to drive at night with this?

kbecks13 said: I did 30% on the sides, kinda wish it was a tad bit lighter but not a big deal. Definitely agree to stick with one percentage for both front and rear side windows tho View attachment 516437 Click to expand...

Yeah I agree. It doesn't look bad but with the grey paint and grey rims like a superlight tint would better. Like 50-60% imho.

TyH2009

Member

Apr 12, 2019 596 686 St. Louis

Jay24 said: Love it. Have you found that the 50% on your windshield causes any issues at all with the front camera? The place I use for tinting said they won’t do the windshield due to problems it can cause. Click to expand...

kbecks13 said: Dont tint over the cameras, most places put it around the camera housing. Also make sure it doesn't extend too close to the cameras or you can have problems, see this thread: Winshield tint caused dashcam to fail? Click to expand...

Correct, you just tint around it. I have no issues.

Candleflame said: 50% on the windshield. Jesus. I knew the legislation in america is lax but are you allowed to drive at night with this? Click to expand...

Honestly it’s not bad at all. Like I said, it’s not technically legal, but neither is not running a front plate and speeding, and I do both of those as well. Haha

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The_Observer

Member

Feb 14, 2020 851 563 Los Angeles Thanks all for the comments. I think I will probably stick with the original plan of 30% all around since I have black interior, and windshield at 80%. Hopefully it turns out to be good.

DaFunGuy

Member

Nov 15, 2019 35 22 SF Bay Area Tint is all about personal preference ... depends what you want. Visibility 20% or darker: harder for people see in and you to see out 30% or lighter: easier for people to see in and you to see out Looks 20% or darker: Limo, illegal activity look 30% or lighter: Subtle, classy look Heat Rejection 20% or darker: usually better/higher 30% or lighter: usually less The Law 20% or darker: more potential legal issues 30% or lighter: less legal issues

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