35% Window Tint, worth it?

[RedG37SNC]

I use to live in Colorado where there were no tint laws and had some great tint on my car. When I moved to North Carolina I was surprised to find out that I'd have to remove it which still pisses me to this day. Frankly it's another one of those useless laws that punishes the innocent and is inefective to it's purpose. A criminal will tint illegally and just remove it before inspection and re-tint after DOH.

My question is, has anyone put a legal 35% tint on? My old tint was dark but not that damn dark, didn't pass the 35% though. It makes me wonder if it's even worth doing. Does anyone have any pictures with legal tint in a 35% state?

[pippen99]

Try being a biker approaching an intersection and some guy totally blacked out is set to cross your path. You will appreciate a law that allows you to see if the guy has noticed you. I speak from experience.

[RedG37SNC]

I am a biker, 1999 Yamaha VMAX 1200cc. I found sound to help in addition to never assuming your seen. I removed the stock pipes and went to cobras, the sucker sounds like a 70's muscle car. Accelorates like one too Mines black though with black wheels, too lazy to take a picture, but this is close. For those that don't know this bike, at 6K RPM the throttle opens a butterfly and each of it's 4 cylinders draws from two carbs, it's called Vboost and believe me you'd think they mounted rockets on it. Got to love the old tech.

Even without tint, vision will always be a problem with bikes.

[dmkozak]

I have 35% 3M all around.

[RedG37SNC]

Awesome snag some pictures if you could.

[TESLAASTRO]

I have carbon 18% on my new G37 , just installed....looks amazing, albeit illegal on my side windows here in Dantes Inferno, otherwise known as S Florida......we don't have yearly inspections, but I believe the cops here have some light meter they can use if you ever get stopped

By the way, as I posted and was confirmed by another member, the experts recommend a carbon film vs a metallic because it doesnt interfere with the electronics of the vehicle.....

actually, from a law enforcement perspective,IMO there is validity in a law limiting the darkness of tint....Imagine how nerve wracking it is as a cop walking up to a car at 3am you just pulled over for speeding or whatever and you have no idea who is in the car or what is happening.....

I think the 35% tint would be worth it for sure...

Modified by TESLAASTRO at 5:44 PM 12/28/2007

Modified by TESLAASTRO at 5:46 PM 12/28/2007
Modified by TESLAASTRO at 6:54 PM 12/28/2007

[TESLAASTRO]

that bike is great looking...

[RedG37SNC]

actually, from a law enforcement perspective,IMO there is validity in a law limiting the darkness of tint..

That is a good point, but most of us roll the window down when said event happens. If you don't as part of their procedure they ask for it from your 7 O'clock position,. I rode with the MD state police once apon a time when I was majoring in Criminal Justice. Rough life indeed, switch to Computer Science. I believe my tint was 28 on the side windows before, not a big difference and with a light you could still see in the car. Maybe 35 will still look good, I'd just like to see it on a car before I go for it.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I use to live in Colorado where there were no tint laws and had some great tint on my car. When I moved to North Carolina I was surprised to find out that I'd have to remove it which still pisses me to this day. Frankly it's another one of those useless laws that punishes the innocent and is inefective to it's purpose. A criminal will tint illegally and just remove it before inspection and re-tint after DOH.

My question is, has anyone put a legal 35% tint on? My old tint was dark but not that damn dark, didn't pass the 35% though. It makes me wonder if it's even worth doing. Does anyone have any pictures with legal tint in a 35% state?

Actually a criminal will just "buy" an inspection sticker. Problem solved.

Be careful assuming that 35% is legal. Once you combine the 35% with the small level of tint already existant in all vehicle glass - you will likely end up below 35%. My car has 35%. You said your car had 28% - maybe this was the combination of the 35% film and your factory windows. I had my car tested by state troopers and the rear side and rear windows were all in the high 20s. The front 2 windows were in the low 30s - but not as high as 35.

Good Luck

[RedG37SNC]

Thanks for the shots, that should work. The place I'm taking it to tomorrow also does state inspections so that shouldn't be a problem.

On to tint brand/type. The look I'm looking for is a black mirror look and 3M's Black chrome sounds like the winner. 35% transmition, 57% reflectivity. I'm not sure if they carry it so I'll either order or see if they have a tint with similar stats from Luminar or Huber Optik. Anyone else have a recommendation?

[TESLAASTRO]

non metallic carbon....

[RedG37SNC]

Had to hit two tint shops but the guy at AutoFx in Pineville,NC impressed me with his knowledge and skill. As I mentioned before I was looking for as dark a look as I could get and still be 35% legal. We looked at Llumar but the 35% just wasn't dark. Pretty much everything else was Metalic. Then he pulled out SunTek's Carbon 35. Wow this film was dark and noticably thicker then anything else we looked at. It was hard to believe it was legal although he pull the light meter out to confirm it would pass. He commented about the scratch protection and lifetime warrenty and I was sold. He also through in a shaving application for free, that's when they take the tint right to the edge of the window, no border, total job $200 awesome deal. Offered for me to bring it back in 3 days and he'd clean the windows and touch up if any was needed, great service to boot. I highly recommend the film and the shop.

Suntek Specs: http://dsmfilms.co.nz/pages/auto_spec.html
Modified by RedG37SNC at 9:44 PM 12/31/2007

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

I know its a G35 but this is mine with 35% no photoshop to the windows.

35% is pretty dark, I sometimes have trouble driving at night in a dark street (going around corners etc creates alot of blindspots) but it looks really good.

[Magellan]

35% is pretty dark, I sometimes have trouble driving at night in a dark street (going around corners etc creates alot of blindspots) but it looks really good.

Your comment was quite interesting. What you seem to be saying is that you’ve compromised safety a bit, but it looks good. This is the crux of the whole tint debate. When you get right down to it, it is not a matter of getting pulled over or not for the sake of a cool looking car; it’s a question of avoiding killing yourself or others at night due to decreased vision through tinted glass.

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Your comment was quite interesting. What you seem to be saying is that you’ve compromised safety a bit, but it looks good. This is the crux of the whole tint debate. When you get right down to it, it is not a matter of getting pulled over or not for the sake of a cool looking car; it’s a question of avoiding killing yourself or others at night due to decreased vision through tinted glass.

Your taking what I said alittle out of context. Yes, its more difficult at night, but I am aware of this and take extra care.

I also didn't tint them, the previous owner did. However, on my next car, I'd like the same. The dark tint keeps out ALOT of heat (roll your window down in direct sunlight, feel the heat, then roll your window back up and its totally gone, as well as glare. The rear window is also tinted the same and its done wonders for the rear seats/headrests, they are still in perfect condition, no UV fade, no drying/cracking whatsoever.

[Magellan]

Your taking what I said alittle out of context. Yes, its more difficult at night, but I am aware of this and take extra care.

I also didn't tint them, the previous owner did. However, on my next car, I'd like the same. The dark tint keeps out ALOT of heat (roll your window down in direct sunlight, feel the heat, then roll your window back up and its totally gone, as well as glare. The rear window is also tinted the same and its done wonders for the rear seats/headrests, they are still in perfect condition, no UV fade, no drying/cracking whatsoever.

Well, as you can surmise, I still believe most tints are a safety hazard, certainly at night. Frankly, I see no reason to roll my window down in direct sunlight to see how hot it is outside. Of course our G's give us the outside temperature reading. Besides, I don’t really care when all I have to do is flip on the air conditioner and enjoy the cool air.

Yes, parking in direct sunlight can do eventual harm to the interior. That’s why I have a car cover that I can put on in less than a minute if I have to park in the sun for awhile.

When I turned in my ’04 G35 with a black interior, it was in perfect condition with no leather cracks or faded dash. And I drove it for four years knowing that at night I could see better with no self-imposed visual disadvantages.

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Well, as you can surmise, I still believe most tints are a safety hazard, certainly at night. Frankly, I see no reason to roll my window down in direct sunlight to see how hot it is outside. Of course our G's give us the outside temperature reading. Besides, I don’t really care when all I have to do is flip on the air conditioner and enjoy the cool air.

Yes, parking in direct sunlight can do eventual harm to the interior. That’s why I have a car cover that I can put on in less than a minute if I have to park in the sun for awhile.

When I turned in my ’04 G35 with a black interior, it was in perfect condition with no leather cracks or faded dash. And I drove it for four years knowing that at night I could see better with no self-imposed visual disadvantages.

Each to their own, tints improve running costs, keep the car looking good and protect the occupants from harmful UV rays.

[CYO44Baseball32]

I know its a G35 but this is mine with 35% no photoshop to the windows.

35% is pretty dark, I sometimes have trouble driving at night in a dark street (going around corners etc creates alot of blindspots) but it looks really good.

No way thats 35% my G37S has 30% up front and 20% in the back and its not even close to that dark, yours looks like 5%

pics coming soon!

[CYO44Baseball32]

[santiagodraco]

No way thats 35% my G37S has 30% up front and 20% in the back and its not even close to that dark, yours looks like 5%

pics coming soon!

Well, it's not a good picture for judging tint. Tint shots need to be from the rear/side so the windows don't stack on one another in the shot.

But that said it does look pretty dark

[Cali 2 Balti G]

Here is another not so perfect shot for judging 35% tint.

You can see the rhs silver door handle, head rest and the white van through the windows. The interior is black - so that tends to make the tint appear to be darker.

On my car the 35% film equates to abut 32-33 % on the fronts and high 20% on the rear 3 windows. That's factoring in the light factory tint that all cars come with.


Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 1:09 PM 1/26/2008

[Goat_Wiz]

we have a similar law here in WA, 35% is legal. I just got 15% on mine. I love it. Helped with the heat inside too. I will post pics if you want. The pic in my sig is from the day after I bought my car (about 2 1/2 months ago)

[Goat_Wiz]

The side view of my car has the tint...the other view is older but I liked the reflections

[dumpedG37]

I'm having 35 put all the way around. Oregon law. I'll post some pics

[infinitefury]

Your ride is pure sex.

Vinyl overlays to smoke out the taillights?

[TISon28s]

I have 4% tint and cops always give me a hard time. Oh well, no tickets yet. Maybe it's cuz we have g's?