I was just reading a thread where a guy said he doesn't use his rear defrost because it will ruin the tint. I've heard that, and I've heard people say that it has no effect on the tint film. It makes sense that having hot strips of metallic composite directly against the tint would discolor or shrink it. Then again, how hot do they actually get? Probably not any hotter than the window would be in the middle of summer anyway. If the defroster grids got really hot, kids in the backseat would burn themselves and automakers would be faced with lawsuits.

So, is it urban myth that defrosters ruin tint?

 

I've used mine for the last 2+ years since I've had it installed, and no effects.

 

Same here. No effects on the tint or defrosters.

 

The thin wires are under a coating already so they are not in direct contact with the tint film. The window doesn't get very hot, just warm enough to burn off the excessive moisture. Your back window gets much hotter on a mid summer day and the tint is plenty capable of handling those temps.

Ask your local tint shop and see what they say.

 

it has no effect on the tint.... but it may seem that way since after 5-6 years the tint may start to bubble or turn purple on the rear window first because it sees the most heat on sunny, summer days. But whether or not you use the defroster this will happen.. most tint shops use cheaper tint which usually only carry a 3-5yr. warranty
You should try to find one that uses Llumar they give a lifetime gaurantee..

 

I've had tint on the car for ten years. Never noticed any harmful effects from using the defroster.

I guess I could see it happening if the tint job was really bad/cheap to begin with.

 

I know for a fact, that if your tinter uses cheap, no name tint, over time, the rear defroster will damage the tint. If your tinter uses a quality film such as madico or llumar, it will not have any affects on the tint.

 

What is a good brand of tint?

 

i think my shop my have used cheap tint. after a few years, the tint on my old '97 SE became cloudy - almost like looking through a glass bottle. I was going to replace the tint over the summer, but some idiot hit me and totalled my car.

 

3M is one of the most popular ones in my area.

 

I've had my tint on for two winters and use my defrosters at least once a day in the winter and the tint still looks brand new

 

I can vouch for this 3+yrs no problems

 

If the tint is installed correctly, the defrost will not harm the tint. If there is air bubbles in the tint, the defrost will make them worse. After installing new tint its a good idea not to use the defrost for a week or so.

 

^^^What he said.
Cheap tint film will get distorted and discolored by the defroster (I've had my rear window retinted twice under the lifetime warranty on my bad tint). Good tint film will not be affected. 3M, Formula One, Madico are all brands I have had good luck with on other cars. A good tinter that has a lot of experience will usually have several brands on tap and will advise you which brands will maintain their color and clarity longest. Tint shops that only use one brand will always tell you that their brand is better. A lifetime warranty does not insure that the tint is good (as my case exemplifies). In my experience, shops that only do tint usually do the best job and usually charge less than places that "also do" tint.

 

it doesn't

 

I had my tint on for 4 yrs. Using the rear defroster had no effect on it.

 

Go to a reputable tint shop and they will use a quality commercial brand for tinting your Maxima. I had it for many years on several cars and no problem at all with the rear defroster.

 

I think it is because my car has cheap tinting on it, but after defrosting my rear window a couple of times, my tinting is all wrinkled.

(i didn't put the cheap tinting on my car, it was like that when i got it, but i might be getting my windows tinted for christmas)

 

3M is a good brand

 

Llumar is not phased.

 

Lumar and Solar Guard are good.

 

Anyone know of a good way to get tint off the rear window w/o messing up the defrost lines? Bought the car with that crappy reflective tint on the back and I hate it. Should I attempt myself or $uck it up and take it to a tint shop?

 

Ask ZIPPIN. He has done it. I believe he said it was a pain in the a$$ though.

 

I personally would take it to the pros because I wouldn't want to screw it up any further.

 

2 cars with tint... no problemo.

Just go somewhere good and you won't have any problems.

 

take the car to a reputable tint shop. i got llumar in the back and use the defroster quite often without any issues.

 

Take it to a shop. I ended up replacing my back glass ($125) b/c I f'd up the defroster.

 

I tint windows for a living, if you get a decent tint show to put on the film you will have no issues with the film on the back window. A good brand is Llumar window film. Lifetime warranty and won't ever turn purple. Films turn purple because they are colored with ink. Llumar is 50% metal and 50% ink, the metal is layered over the ink so it blocks the sun and keeps fading from happening. They also have fully metalized films that have a silver tint to them. Hope this helps! My car has Llumar 20% all the way arround.

 

Love those Axis Milanos.

 

thanks, me too!

 

Yep it doesnt.

 

I got 3+ years (Llumar tint) and no problems at all. Tint looks as good as it did on day 1.

 

OK thanks everyone.

I got my windows done this week and I'm looking forward to not screwing-up the tint with the rear defrost.

Madico CharCool in 55%:

 

I was wondering the same

 

Just got my tint on and won't use the defrosters for about 3 more days. Paranoid it will cause a bubble etc.

 

I have always had tint on all my cars..89,96,98 jettas and 01,06 maximas. no problems to this day with defrosters and tint.

 

I got Lumar to Lifetime warranty on bubbling and fading.

 

Ive had tint on my cars for the last 10 years and never noticed a problem and i use the defrost alot.

 

I've had tint on rear defroster for ten plus years now and no problems as of yet.

 

I don't have much ideas but like to hear more.