I have an appt tomorrow to have my windows tinted on my 04 SE. What is everyone's opinion on the % to get? I was thinking 20%... any other opinion?

 

It all depends on the cops in your state. In KY where I live you don't get hassled for dark windows, but in Ohio police will stop you just for having too dark of windows. Then they make you remove the tint.

Your tint shop will have a good idea how dark you can get away with.

Also, super dark looks nice but it takes some adjustment driving at night.

 

Only advice I give is: Check your state tint laws. Others will tell you doesn't matter but you will not hear from the majority of the illegal tint owners who are getting ticketed or forced to remove tint on the side of the road by police. Good luck...

 

yup, check your local laws before getting the tint. for my area, it's 35% on the sides and no limit on the back window. so...that's what i got...35% on the sides, and 15% on the back.

 

My Opinion Is get 20%! Its good enough, I had 5% Limo but it was way to dark especially the back windshield at night!

But 20% is good
35% is to light!

 

15% rears


35% sides

maybe this will help you decide. but again, check with local laws regarding tint percentages to avoid issues with the police.

 

I use to have 20% and I got pulled over about 5 times, and I removed my tint and replaced it about 3 different times. Now I have 35%, Im not going through those hassles anymore. Get 35%...

 

I agree with everyone else, 20% is great, but if you feel like you'll catch hell for it from the cops... then do 5% on the back (okay in most states) which will help the front tint.

-Or-

Around here they call it mirror tint or mirror fading tint..., you can get that @ 35% and w/ the high reflection nosey people won't be able to be, and it'll be dark enough on the iniside

 

Sorry Batman disagree 35% is both dark and safe...



35% front 20% rear 35% back (Maryland State legal)

 

that jet your daily driver?

 

Weekends only. Jet parking hard to find at work....

 

I think in Ontario 25% is legal limit. I'm running 20% all around and I like it Usually when I'm around cops on road I slide open the moonroof cover to make the front look lighter...

One thing to consider, what my frind (tint shop owner) told me when he installed the tint on my car, is your interior color. If you have lighter interior (I have cream) you could easily go 5-10% darker vs if you have dark interior... If you have it dark, then stick close to limit as it will look darker anyway...

 

Happened to me.... I have 5% on all windows.....35% front windshield....but this is the second one on the front due to being pulled over by the FHP. Made me remove it on the side of the road, 2 days later i put it back on.... first time ever being pulled over in 7 years with 3 different cars same tint set up.
just my .02

 

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

Window tint laws

http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/

 

There is no % limit stated in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. It is up to the individual officer to determine.

That being said....yes you're in the right ballpark for not getting a ticket. Remember if you are pulled over at night to turn on your interior lights before the cop gets to the window.

CM

 

Ontario
Vague / Vague / ANY / ANY / 198x

Note : Has vague law. Law simply says that the windshield and front side windows cannot be tinted to the extent that people and contents inside cannot easily be identified from the outside.


So one trooper can said its ok and one mile down the road another trooper can give you a ticket. I think that there should be some kind of limit.

 

The rule of thumb the boys on the job use is if they can't tell the sex of the driver due to the heavy tint then it is in violation.

I agree a % may be better since it sets a definate limit. Then you get into needing measureing equipment to determine the level of tint, then testifying about the calibration of the equipment, the qualifications of the operator, etc etc..just like a roadside screening device. And like other posters have said the interior colour also plays a factor in the visibility of the interior through the tint.

It's an officer safety issue. I'd bet there will be little movement to changing the law in any way that will be detrimental to that.

CM

 

I have 2 layers of 20% tints all around with the exception of the windsield. As many have said check with the state laws in your state and also as they said you will have to get used to night driving. In my case I don't even bother using the rear window because I can't see nothing fromt it that's why I decided to get a rear camera for that problem. Also, the sides, if you're in an area where there's no lighting whatsoever you won't be able to see nothing in the outside through your side windows. Not to mention that this is illegal. So if you don't mind the darkness while driving at night, and the fact that you can get pulled over on any given moment because of your tints than go for it otherwise consider your choices.

 

Why 2 layers?

 

I originally started with the 20% but than I decided that I wanted to go darker. My plan was to originally take that off and put a limo tint but the guy told me that to remove it he would've charged me like $125 plus like another $100 to put the new tint so that's when I decided to double layer it. I didn't do the 2nd layer with limo tints because a friend of mine had talked me out of it because he said it would've been very dark so I just decided to keep it with the 20% on the second layer.

 

True, 35% is the best compromise for darkness and night visibility. 35% on my car from the side looks dark but once you look into the car you can still see in.

 

I'm not wanted for anything so that's cool with me...

 

Check local laws and remember that night driving is alot different then day time driving but im a rebel so 5% all the way around plus 38% on front window

 

Check the laws like everyone said. I have 20% all the way around. I was pulled over the other day by a Capitol police officer. He put the little tint reader on my window and it read 15%. He told me that it was illeagal and to remove it asap. He also told me that my tag cover which is slightly tinted also needed to be removed. If you go with the illegal tint just be prepared for whatever cop decides to stop you and give you a ticket. I have always put 20% on my windows and this was the second time in twelve years I have been pulled over. I never got a ticket but if I do I won't complain I'm violating the law. Chose carefully.

 

One last consideration (Very Important) nighttime safety is more compromised if you live in rural areas verse lighted city streets. If you live in suburbs or areas with limited streetlights, anything below 20% tint will feel like your driving with a blindfold on. My home is in a semi-rural area and if I had 20% or below I could never spot the suicidal deer in my area in time. Nor any of the dumb fu%cks who take strolls on the road shoulders at night ..

 

yeah, 15% is a bit too dark to see out of when backing up when the street are poorly lit. but since i'm in the city, i seldom run into that problem. just food for thought...

 

http://www.watsonsglen.com/Kam/Maxima/loweringkit/

Scroll to the bottom of the pics to see the tint on my ride. 20% all around.

Looks sharp and the PO-Lice dont botha me.

Kamski

 

35% is good for me. I haven't been stopped yet.

 

What % did you get? Most reputable installers in my area will only apply the legal limit (35%).

 

Wow, your 20% doesn't look near as dark as mine does. Mine is a little reflective though. Could be camera angle or something else.

 

So what tint did you go with? I live here in KS as well and I got 35% this time. The state troopers will have a field day if you go real dark. My last car had 20% and I got harassed all the time about the tint plus a few tickets. 35 is pretty dark most people still can't see into my car. Plus I got it in charcoal so that makes it appear darker.

 

Kamski, your pictures are great. Have a quick OT question, can you give me the 411 on your hood bug deflector...

 

I dont want to start a new thread, its related anyways,
anybody nows where can i get huper optik ceramic tint in southern cali,
so far i found one, but they want 475 all around, i now some people got it for around 400,

 

Yes Sir,

The Dealership put it on the car after I discovered on pickup day that it had a hood chip. I spazzed and told em to get me another car cause I didnt want to scratched up max. So they took $500 of the car and threw in the Nissan hood deflector. It works great and shoves the wind off the winshield quiet niceley. My stealership has it for $100CA.

Peace,

Kam

 

Hey I had 20% all around and it was not to dark but dark enough, Got pulled over and i had to get the driver and pass side tints remove. Took it for inspection, passed and went right back to the tint shop and got 35% install in the front.

 

when I got my 4Runner done I asked them to match my fronts to the back and that was 35% and when I get the Max done I'll go with 35% all around, seems like everyone has it that way in NY/NJ and all the cops I ask said 35% is fine even though it's illegal

 

a STATE WINDOW TINTING RULES & LAWS
Rev May 24, 2005 % OF % OF RESTRICTED
<----VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMISSION----> REFLECTIVITY COLORS
LAW WIND- F.SIDE B.SIDE B.SIDE REAR REAR F.SIDE B.SIDE ALL GLASS L&R.MIRR. CERTIF. STCKR/LOC MEDICAL
STATE YEAR TYPE SHIELD (car) (MPV) (car) (MPV) (SEE LEGEND) (SEE LEGEND) REQ. REQ.
AL 96 NET 6" 32 32 ANY 32 ANY 20 20 N/S NO YES SPEC / ALL YES
AK 94 NET 5" 70 40 ANY 40 ANY NMMA NMMA R, A, Y NO NO NO YES
AZ 94 NET AS1 33 ANY ANY ANY ANY 35 35 R, A YES NO NO YES
AR 93 NET 5" 25 25 10 10 10 NR NR N/S NO NO SPEC / DRIVER YES
CA 99 NET 4" 70 ANY ANY ANY ANY MNIR MNIR R, A, B YES NO NO *YES
CO 95 NET 4" 27 27 27 27 27 NMMA NMMA R, A YES NO RECOMMEND NO
CO 95 NET 4" NO ANY ANY ANY ANY NMMA NMMA R, A NO NO NO NO
CT 94 NET AS1 35 35 ANY ANY ANY 21 27 N/S YES YES SPEC / ALL NO
DE 92 NET AS1 70 ANY ANY ANY ANY NR NR N/S YES NO SPEC / DRIVER YES
FL 91 NET AS1 28 15 6 15 6 25 35 ALL YES NO SPEC / DOOR YES
GA 2005 NET 6" 32 32 ANY 32 ANY 20 20 R, A NO NO NO YES
HI 89 NET 4" 35 35 ANY 35 ANY NR NR N/S YES NO NO NO
ID 92 FILM AS1 35 20 ANY 35 ANY 35 35 N/S YES NO NO YES
IL 98 NET 6" NO ANY ANY ANY ANY MBNR MBNR N/S YES NO NO YES
IN 2003 VAGUE AS1 30 30 VAGUE 30 VAGUE 25 25 N/S NO YES NO YES
IA 83 NET AS1 70 ANY ANY ANY ANY NE NE N/S NO NO NO YES
KS 87 NET AS1 35 35 35 35 35 MBNR MBNR R, A, Y YES NO RECOMMEND NO
KY 94 FILM AS1 35 18 8 18 8 25 25 N/S NO YES SPEC / DOOR NO
LA 93 NET AS1 40 25 ANY 12 ANY 20 20 N/S NO YES SPEC / DRIVER YES
ME 89 FILM 4" 50 50 ANY 50 ANY MBNR MBNR N/S YES YES NO NO
MD 95 NET 5" 35 35 ANY 35 ANY NONE NONE R, A, Y YES YES SPEC / ALL YES
MA 85 NET 6" 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 N/S YES NO RECOMMEND YES
MI 2000 NET 4" 4" ANY ANY ANY ANY 35 35 N/S NO NO NO YES
MN 85 VAGUE NO 50 50 50 50 50 20 20 N/S NO NO SPEC / DRIVER YES
MS 2005 NET AS1 35 35 35 35 35 20 20 N/S NO YES SPEC / ALL YES
MO 2002 NET AS1 35 ANY ANY ANY ANY 35 35 N/S YES NO NO YES
MT 91 FILM AS1 35 20 ANY 20 ANY 35 35 N/S NO NO RECOMMEND YES
NE 94 FILM AS1 OR 5" 35 20 35 20 35 35 35 ***R, A, Y VAGUE NO NO YES
NV 93 NET AS1 35 ANY ANY ANY ANY NONE NONE N/S YES YES NO YES
NH 90 NET 6" NO 35 ANY 35 ANY NR NR N/S YES NO RECOMMEND NO
NJ 00 NET NO NO ANY ANY ANY ANY NMMA NMMA N/S YES NO NO YES
NM 97 NET AS1 OR 5" 20 20 ANY 20 ANY NONE NONE N/S YES YES SPEC / DRIVER YES
NY 91 NET 6" 70 70 ANY ANY ANY NR NR N/S YES NO SPEC / ALL YES
NC 95 NET AS1 35 35 ANY 35 ANY 20 20 R, A, Y YES NO NO YES
ND 2003 NET 70 50 ANY ANY ANY ANY NR NR N/S YES NO NO NO
OH 2004 NET 70 50 ANY ANY ANY ANY MNIR MNIR R,Y YES YES SPEC / ALL YES
OK 95 NET AS1 OR 5" 25 25 ANY 25 ANY 25 25 N/S YES YES NO YES
OR 2003 NET 6" 35 35 ANY 35 ANY 13 13 R,G,A,Y.BK YES YES NO YES
PA 99 NET NO 70 70 ANY 70 ANY NR NR N/S YES NO SPEC / REAR YES
RI 00 NET AS1 70 70 ANY 70 ANY NONE NONE N/S NO NO NO YES
SC** 92 NET AS1 27 27 ANY** 27 ANY MBNR MBNR R, A, Y YES YES SPEC / ALL YES
SD 89 NET AS1 35 20 NR 20 NR NR NR N/S NO YES SPEC / ALL NO
TN 90 NET AS1 35 35 ANY 35 ANY NR NR N/S NO NO SPEC / DRIVER YES
TX 2003 NET AS1 or 5" 25 25 ANY ANY ANY 25 25 R, B, A YES YES SPEC / DRIVER YES
UT 94 NET AS1 43 ANY ANY ANY ANY NMMA NMMA N/S YES NO NO NO
VT 84 NET AS1 NO ANY ANY ANY ANY NR NR N/S YES NO NO NO
VA 99 NET AS1 50 35 ANY 35 ANY 20 20 R, A, Y YES NO NONE YES
WA 93 FILM 6" 35 35 ANY 35 ANY 35 35 R, A, Y YES YES SPEC / DRIVER YES
WV 91 NET 5" 35 35 ANY 35 ANY 20 20 R, A, Y YES YES SPEC / ALL YES
WI 96 NET AS1 50 35 35 35 35 MBNR MBNR N/S YES NO NO YES
WY 96 NET AS1 OR 5" 28 28 ANY 28 ANY 20 20 N/S YES NO NO YES
Wash-DC 2001 NET AS1 OR 5" 70 50 35 50 35 YES

This information is prepared for IWFA members by the Legislative Committee and consultants and represents our understanding of the law, regulations and rules of the
states published in it. If you are an IWFA member and you have questions on these interpretations, call the IWFA office. In all cases, refer to your local authority
for current laws, rules or regulations. Your current state law is the final authority.

LEGENDS: * Medical Exemption Day Time Only **Pick-Up Trucks are not considered MPV's ***Above AS1 only
NET = VLT% refers to the combined LT of film and glass.
REFLECTIVITY: Reflectivity: NR = NOT REGULATED, NE = NOT EXCESSIVE (NOT SPECIFIC), MBNR = MUST BE NON - REFLECTIVE (NOT SPECIFIC),
MNIR = MUST NOT INCREASE REFLECTIVITY, NMMA = NO METALLIC OR MIRRORED APPEARANCE, NONE = NO REFERENCE
TO REFLECTIVITY IN THE CURRENT LAW
COLORS: Colors: R = RED, A = AMBER, Y = YELLOW, B = BLUE, G = GOLD, BK = BLACK, N/S = NOT SPECIFIED

 

wtf...texas is 25%? that tint guy told me 35% was the limit...

 

Thanks for everyone's input on this.... I ended up going 20% on the sides and back. I think it looks good, not to dark... but also not to light. Hopefully the police won't hassle me to much.

TB2211