I'm thinking of getting tints, but sort of concerned about visibility at night. Reason being that my pops has a tint on his car (I think 35%), and I can't see **** at night. Are all tints (w/same percentage) the same visibility wise?

What's the lowest I can go and not run someone over while backing up?

 

This is actually dependent upon things other than the tint. Not sure about all 35%'s being the same as far as looking out, but I do know it has an awful lot to do with street lights, where you live, how well marked road shoulders, etc. are, congestion on streets, etc.

In my case, I live in the country (more or less) with no street lights, no markings for where the road ends and where the drainage ditch starts (these ditches are often 2-5 feet deep), and not enough city lights nearby to have a 'sky glow' to light up the night a bit. The only thing going for the tints at night is there are no parked cars or pedestrian traffic to hit.

Don't think I would ever go less than the 35% I am at now given where I live.

Assess your situation this way and then decide. Don't forget, while you can always put the windows down to see sideways, the rear glass is going to be that way for quite some time.

 

5% at night is a b!tch to see out of....20% isn't so bad, as long as the street has lights on it....35% is nothing...it's like barely having tint

 

Like jjs said, depends on your environment. In the city I have zero problem with the side windows (32%), but out the back window (18%) it's a little worse. Not hard to see things at night in a well-lit area, but without any ambient light it's pretty dark.

Also, on the highway the tint combines with the self-dimming mirror to stop me from seeing much detail of cars behind me (and headlights are an important clue in the "cop / no cop?" question...). Yes, I could turn off the self-dimmer, but it's not that big a problem.

 

JJS and NT2SHBBY, I hear you guys about the street light conditions. Most of the places I drive in have lighting, but not always. I'm mostly concerned about backing up in dark lots--wouldn't want to hit a fire hydrant or something.

what about the different tint types (metallic, mirror, titanium, smoked, whatever else there is...)? Do they make any difference?

 

most def....mirror/titanium kind of disappears at dark....its like not having tint at all, no matter how dark u go....

 

There MAY be some difference dpending not only on the type, but also the quality. I strongly suggest you drop by a local tint shop to see some of the choices and how they look to you. I have not looked into mirror, etc. tint on any of the several vehicles I have had tinted over time. I prefer to stick to the smoked look and/or metallic based tint, so I really don't know if they are 'all the same'.

 

I have 20% all around and have no problems seeing.

 

i have had 20% and 35%. IMO 20% is too dark to see at night. Plus, in NY, i got by cops all the time. I put 35% on my SE-R and My Max, and i have no problems at all. I would like a darker tint (dark tint kicks a$$) but, i want to be able to see at night. If you cant see $hit with 35%, i dont know what too say. Its a nice clean dark color. And dont get that mirror crap..either smoked or charcoal. Again all in my opinion!

 

I'm not positive it's 35%, but I think it is. I'm probably just not used to driving w/tint, so it feels odd driving his car. An example of when the tint really interfered w/driving was when it was raining one time (not nightime yet, but sun was setting), and some cars didn't have their headlights on. So when I had to change lanes, I had to be extra careful looking at my side mirrors to make sure some idiot w/no lights on wasn't in the lane.

I'll probably end up getting 35% all around (don't want to be bothered by cops), and will use titanium/smoked/charcoal, whichever I like better in person.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Man, this is the first post I have seen where you didn't recommend teins. LOL I do agree with you though. If I was a younger guy, I might stick with the legal stuff so I don't get a ticket. I have been pulled over by a trooper in Dallas TX with the 20% and he didn't even notice. Maybe they just understand that it gets hot as hell down here and we have no choice. I also agree on the charcoal color. I am not a big fan of the mirror look.

 

he hasnt asked that question yet! that made me laugh though..thanks!

 

Hmmmm,...I have 35% up front and 20% the rest of the way AND CLEAR side markers. And I've yet to be pulled over by the pork here in the Bronx.

 

Check out my ride for Quantum tints on Sheer Silver.

As for seeing out at night, you can clearly see out when its dark. This is a first tint I got that I was so amazed period. Had tinted cars in past but this tint just rocks! Think of the factory tints you see on Murano from inside which you can clearly see out and its even better. From outside, you can't hardly see into the rear 14% but the front 28% you can see through enough to see me there driving . Btw I tend to roll down the windows when I see the cops just to be safe. But fronts are pretty light and I shouldn't worry too much.

Peter

 

like NT2SHBBY said 35% is not really that dark, If i were you I would go with 20% without a doubt. As far as lighting driving around normally its fine. backing up it is kinda hard. Just get the polarg m6 bulbs, or piaa or whatever you want for the reverse lights, there much brighter and they help when backing up

 

Stock Acura....see visibly your tints are two different shades of platinum.....not even really in the same family, thus the reason I was also avoiding getting platinum tint because I could've gotten 20% platnium all around but it gets too reflective in 20%, making me stand out too much for cops....

its all preference really..... I myself chose 20% black reflective because its reflective, but not like platnium/titanium/whatever tint.....

It does become painful pulling out of tight alleys or streets at night where there are no street lights....but u roll down the windows or deal with it...

 

The problem of seeing out at night you mentioned reminded me of old 5% I had on my Honda. And to compare that to this tint I got, is like night and day. You can see out clearly with the 14% I got for the rears. Its really unique. I can't complaint yet.

 

I've got 20% on the rear WS, sunroof and a stripe on the upper front WS. All the side windows are 35%, oh and it's all smoked. I and see fine and I'm in both city and rural situations. In my Silverado I've got 20% all around and I have a hard time seeing out the side if it's real dark.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Black2000maxima: Bro, I noticed in NYC, cops don't tend to pull people over for **** that doesn't stick out too bad. They just have more important things to worry about than cars w/tints. On top of that, most cars I've seen have tints, so I don't think they'll start pulling all of them over. However, if you're speeding or doing some shady ****, they will prolly nab you for the tints as well. That's my take on the NYC tint situation.

stockacura: That tint looks hot in the picture. I'm not sure what it looks like in real life, but if it's really reflective like NT2SHBBY said, I'd pass. I'm looking for something that's not really reflective and will match my Sheer Silver paint.

jessa: I don't want to go lower than 35% cause I don't want cops to have any extra reasons to hassle me. I sometimes end up in the suburbs, and we all know that cops in small counties LOOK for work, and will hassle over the most insignificant thing. In MA, the lowest you can go is 35%, so that's what I'll do.

So, let me get this straight, there are pretty much 3 "color" choices of tint--mirror, titanium, and smoked(same as charcoal)? On top of that, which of these tints also comes in reflective form?

Finally, what do you guys recommend for a Sheer Silver color? I need something at 35% and not extremely shiny (some reflection would look tight though IMHO).

Thanks all

 

If I were you, I would put 35% all around. I have 18% and it's hard to see if the street is not well lit. I laugh when I see people with 5%. It's impossible to see out on a rainy day at nights with those tints. I used to have 35% tints on my old max and I could see out fine with those.

 

I think many of you are rationalizing this tint issue, mainly because you like them or just think it's "cool." Regardless of how much tint you have, it does cut down visibility at night. How much? It depends on how much tint one has, what windows are tinted and external driving conditions. But you can't avoid, nor argue endlessly, that there isn't SOME loss of visibility. Now, does this loss create an increased safety risk? However minor, it sure does. What ever the risk factor is, it can't be zero. So the question becomes how much risk you're willing to take to satisfy your desire for tinted windows.

It would be easy to say that this risk factor is personal and involves no one else, so critics should just mind their own business. But that's naive. Killing a child you didn't see crossing a dark street at night with your tinted windows refutes that argument.

 

I'm havin a hard time deciding on tint. 20% or 35%. But since some of you said 35% is like not having tint, I think I'll go with 20%

 

I recommend formula one tints. They tint those on Space Shuttles! www.formulaone.com
http://www.nissanx.net/gall/sm-perf-tint <~~~~ what those tints look like.

 

Well, there is a bit more to it than what you want.

http://www.gilafilms.com/auto/car_tint_laws.html

Now, depends how little you care about being pulled over.

 

What percentage is that in the Max pics?

 

35% was too dark for me b/c i was backing up and hit a truck's bumeper in a poorly lighted area.

 

I'll take the risk of getting into a accident because my windows are tinted to dark over the risk of getting skin cancer again without it thank you very much.

 

18%, that's the charcol version. The one I have is a mirrior type. I have pics if you want them...

 

dude...if 35% is too dark for you....I dunno what to say but I guess tint isn't for you....anything above 35% (percentage wise) is just wasteful.....

it's pretty bad when you have a hard time seeing out of 35%...

 

I can see out of limo tinted windows here in phoenix at night just fine...

 

it was a joke.. 35% is good for me... im just upset that i ran into that truck..

 

it was a joke.. 35% is good for me... im just upset that i ran into that truck..