tinting front windshield
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Houma, Louisiana
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a friend of mine got his grand prix tinted all around.. he had a doctors excuse because of some kind of stig-ma-tiz-um with his eyes.. he has 5% all around and 20% on the front.. it was hella dark couldn't even see inside the car when it was super bright out. he always got mistaken for an undercover cop.
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From: calgary
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
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Re: tinting front windshield
lol i was thinking about doing this, my shop said they wouldnt, but all i want is a really light shade like 95% to make the stupid green factory tint go away. and i dont think it will affect visibility much.
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Re: tinting front windshield
Don't do it, you'll regret taking it off once you've gotten pulled over. All that glue residue is a pain in the *** to get off. Still wiping that residue off my windshield. I had 35% in front and 15% all around, loved how cool it kept the car in the summer but again visiablity is a issue until you get use to it.
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
Rep Power: 811 Re: tinting front windshield
would they even notice such a light tint tho? i know its a pain to take off, the tint comes off and the glue stays lol.
Re: tinting front windshield
When I had my truck I had 20% all the way around and 35% on the windshield.. the hardest thing to get used to is getting out of the car at dawn or dusk when you're in the car you'll still think it's dark out, then you open the door and BAM! lol... it's weird.. that and the windshield will fog up a little more than you're used to.
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ontario
Rep Power: 379 Re: tinting front windshield
There are two dots on the top of your windshield about 4" down. Typically this is the lowest you should go, however, each state actually DOES have a law noting how far down a visor can go. Insurance can deny to cover you as well if they find out your front windshield is tinted. I've been ticketed for it by the police.
Re: tinting front windshield
not worth it in my opinion, especially if you end up getting a fix-it ticket and have to remove it. getting the residue out of the bottom corners and stuff does not seem fun if you're a person like me with big hands.
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I have 15% all around and 40% on windshield. I love it. Took me about a week to adjust but now its great. I dont recommend going any darker than 40% though or you will start having visibility issues. I replaced my stock bulbs with some great phillips ones and visibility is not an issue for me. And I live in Washington St. where its always either rainy or cloudy. It cost me 100$ for my windsheild and sunroof and in my opinion its was well worth it. Have had it on for about 5 months now without any issues with the police.
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Rep Power: 273 Re: tinting front windshield
I really do love the idea, but now that I got tint on my Civic I can see that the front window is the only one really lacking the uniformity.
But even still, I know what would have happened if I tinted the front window... It would probably cost me an extra $100 and next thing I know I take a flying stone which ofcourse hits the front window and I get a crack and there goes the tint job. No way insurance would pay for it.
Or even worse, you get into some sorta collision and it becomes totally obvious that your front windshield has a tint and the other guy hasn't and they ofcourse nail you for the accident.
Aside from all this, usually you're not gonna be tempted to take a card out of your wallet and scratch frost off your side windows, but that front window is sometimes asking for a good scrape instead of waiting the 10 minutes to defrost enough to see. You definitely don't want to make this mistake if your front window is tinted. It's best that you just don't touch window tint, if it can be helped.
So it doesn't matter how dark it is, it's the actual film being installed under the glass which becomes the problem. If only there was some way to smoke it instead :P
But even still, I know what would have happened if I tinted the front window... It would probably cost me an extra $100 and next thing I know I take a flying stone which ofcourse hits the front window and I get a crack and there goes the tint job. No way insurance would pay for it.
Or even worse, you get into some sorta collision and it becomes totally obvious that your front windshield has a tint and the other guy hasn't and they ofcourse nail you for the accident.
Aside from all this, usually you're not gonna be tempted to take a card out of your wallet and scratch frost off your side windows, but that front window is sometimes asking for a good scrape instead of waiting the 10 minutes to defrost enough to see. You definitely don't want to make this mistake if your front window is tinted. It's best that you just don't touch window tint, if it can be helped.
So it doesn't matter how dark it is, it's the actual film being installed under the glass which becomes the problem. If only there was some way to smoke it instead :P
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Rep Power: 0 Re: tinting front windshield
I have been tinting for over 15 years now, and have seen the down side to tinting the front windshield. There are benefits in regards to comfort and looks, but with too many reasons to, just say no.
Insurance will be declined in the case of an accident.
Difficult night viewing of the road, sidewalk, curbs, pot holes, pets, obstructions on the road, and so on...
On top of all that, the windshield can "explode" with there being two sheets of glass that will heat up at different rates when first exposed to the sun. Example, sunrise, pulling out of a car wash, pulling out of your garage, and so on...
I tinted the windshield in my Sporttrac when I first got it, and had to buy a windshield shortly after. I was on the highway during the morning sunrise on the way to my shop when out of nowhere the windshield cracked from top to bottom due to heat expansion. The problem is that the heat that passes through the two sheets of glass gets turned back by the tint, but with the laminate between the two sheets blocking a portion of the heat from escaping, there is pressure applied to the exterior sheet. With the inside sheet being hotter than the outside, the expansion rate is different, and this is what causes the breakage. I should also mention that I was lucky with the crack, it should have exploded, and completely blocked my view with the spider webbing effect found in tempered breakage.
Just some facts to consider with this type of application.
Do what you want, but be aware of the risks.
The last thing I want is to express myself in a way that makes any of you think I'm telling you not to do it, because those aren't my feeling as a whole, I just think it's important that you know the facts when there are others suggesting there is no risk.
Insurance will be declined in the case of an accident.
Difficult night viewing of the road, sidewalk, curbs, pot holes, pets, obstructions on the road, and so on...
On top of all that, the windshield can "explode" with there being two sheets of glass that will heat up at different rates when first exposed to the sun. Example, sunrise, pulling out of a car wash, pulling out of your garage, and so on...
I tinted the windshield in my Sporttrac when I first got it, and had to buy a windshield shortly after. I was on the highway during the morning sunrise on the way to my shop when out of nowhere the windshield cracked from top to bottom due to heat expansion. The problem is that the heat that passes through the two sheets of glass gets turned back by the tint, but with the laminate between the two sheets blocking a portion of the heat from escaping, there is pressure applied to the exterior sheet. With the inside sheet being hotter than the outside, the expansion rate is different, and this is what causes the breakage. I should also mention that I was lucky with the crack, it should have exploded, and completely blocked my view with the spider webbing effect found in tempered breakage.
Just some facts to consider with this type of application.
Do what you want, but be aware of the risks.
The last thing I want is to express myself in a way that makes any of you think I'm telling you not to do it, because those aren't my feeling as a whole, I just think it's important that you know the facts when there are others suggesting there is no risk.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Rep Power: 0 Re: tinting front windshield
The concern isn't based on temp levels, but instead on temp changes. It's fine if the windshield remains the same temp, nothing can happen. It's when the tempurature changes from one extreme to another. It's the changing of tempurature that caused the stress to the windshield.
This same concern has also recently found it's way to the side glass on some vehicles with a number of manufacturer's installing the same laminated glass to the entire vehicle in some cases. Within the industry, we've been informed that we have to limit the strength of heat reduction, reflection, absorbtion and level of darkness applied to this type of glass.
Living in an area where the temps are less likely to fluctuate between hot and cold, you are less likely to encounter any problems, but it is being suggested to installers that we install shades no darker than 35%. The lighter shade will reduce the risk of breakage based on the lower levels of heat absorbtion and so on...
One thing you might want to keep in mind having your windshield tinted in a warmer climate would be that you should do your best to ensure that the entire windshield is exposed the same levels of heat from the sun by avoiding parking in an area that might shadow some of the windshield. This can cause hot spots, and un-even heat distribution. This could result in breakage as well.
Again, I am just pointing out the risks, not pointing fingers. I personally thought is was awsome when I had it done to my truck, but...
What's funny is that I knew of the risks, but thought I could prove them wrong! They were right!
This same concern has also recently found it's way to the side glass on some vehicles with a number of manufacturer's installing the same laminated glass to the entire vehicle in some cases. Within the industry, we've been informed that we have to limit the strength of heat reduction, reflection, absorbtion and level of darkness applied to this type of glass.
Living in an area where the temps are less likely to fluctuate between hot and cold, you are less likely to encounter any problems, but it is being suggested to installers that we install shades no darker than 35%. The lighter shade will reduce the risk of breakage based on the lower levels of heat absorbtion and so on...
One thing you might want to keep in mind having your windshield tinted in a warmer climate would be that you should do your best to ensure that the entire windshield is exposed the same levels of heat from the sun by avoiding parking in an area that might shadow some of the windshield. This can cause hot spots, and un-even heat distribution. This could result in breakage as well.
Again, I am just pointing out the risks, not pointing fingers. I personally thought is was awsome when I had it done to my truck, but...
What's funny is that I knew of the risks, but thought I could prove them wrong! They were right!
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Rep Power: 246 Re: tinting front windshield
nice to know the risks though...its like doing a stripper...yeah its fun at first until you realize your crotch burns...yeah your windshield will look good at first but it could bite you at any time...I have my windshield tinted though so bring on the strippers...
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
Rep Power: 811 Re: tinting front windshield
tintworx what about a very light front tint like 95%, just enough to get rid of the stupid green color of the stock glass. which becomes very obvious when its raining and the sides all look nice and dark, while the front one looks totally green.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Rep Power: 0 Re: tinting front windshield
A lighter film would reduce the risk of breakage with the lower heat absorbtion values found in lighter films, but there is still a risk with some heat absorbtion still being found in lighter films. The sudden build-up of heat, with no where to escape as quickly as it's collected, is what causes the breakage. The lower levels of heat collected wouldn't produce as high a risk, but still some.
At least with the application of such a light film, vision won't be as much of an issue.
At least with the application of such a light film, vision won't be as much of an issue.
