Tinted headlights/taillights are the worst idea ever.

[alexf20c]

hmmm... safety? or looks? safety? or looks?

and for those that want to say it's no less safe when you tint your tails or headlights, don't kid yourself.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Ok, so you have a valid point but this is a very random thread; did you crash into someone with tinted tail lights or something recently?

I have my tail lights tinted and I can honestly say that I do feel somewhat less safe than with the factory lenses. Anytime I make an abrupt stop on the highway or anywhere for that matter, I do look in my rear view mirror to see if the person behind me can see my tail lights and if they will stop in time. Obviously my only concern is driving during the day since the difference in actual light output is very minimal compared to the factory lenses so my brake lamps are still very visible at night. The only issue I have with the tinted tail lights is the reflection off of the paint during the day. Since I have my tail lamps tinted to match the metallic silver paint on my car, they reflect a lot of light during the day, which definitely makes it more difficult to see if the lamps are on or not.

I am somewhat paranoid about my tail lamps, so when I am driving I will constantly ask myself if any of the cars tail lamps around me are more difficult to see than mine. Surprisingly, most are much more difficult to see turn on than mine. Since I have had my tail lamps tinted I have had someone else drive my car while I follow in another to see the effectiveness of the tail lamps during the day/night. Of course there are times when it is difficult, but then there are times when it's very obvious that the brakes are being applied. You would be surprised how many cars out there have non-working tail lamps or some that have extremely small (and not obvious) tail lamps. Take a motorcycle for example, some have really small tail lamps which are sometimes impossible to see. Also, if you are ever driving around dusk, you will see that the reflection of the sun in the tail lamps of the person in front of you will sometimes look like the person is pressing the brakes when in fact they aren't.

You also have to take into account the high-mounted stop light. The high-mounted stop light is extremely bright and very hard to miss. It uses nine bulbs and is very wide; I am pretty certain that this is the main reason why I have not been rear-ended yet. You also need to account for the fact that we are driving SUV's and not Honda Civics or Hyundai Tiburons. The R50 doesn't sit that low to the ground and it's not an easy vehicle to dismiss. I'm not saying that it's a Ford Excursion by any means, but you really have to not be paying attention to the one in front of you to rear-end it.

Now I am not trying to tell every Jon or Jane Doe to go get their tail lights tinted. This is definitely something you do based on your driving style; if you are an extremely aggressive driver who doesn't use turn signals when changing lanes on the highway or if you make lots of abrupt stops, then I definitely do not recommend tinting your tail lights. However, if you someone who drives safely and you leave lots of space between vehicles and don't drive like a total douche, then it's an option. I really like how my Pathfinder looks with the body-matched tinted tails; would I do it again? Probably.

[alexf20c]

sure sounds like you're making a lot of excuses for something you know is not safe. it's amusing to me that you're comparing your tinted taillights to vehicles with non-working bulbs.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

sure sounds like you're making a lot of excuses for something you know is not safe. it's amusing to me that you're comparing your tinted taillights to vehicles with non-working bulbs.

These aren't excuses for anything, I'm reasoning on the effectiveness of a vehicles tail lamps. Have you ever been behind a vehicle which had no working tail lamps? Did you rear-end them because you relied completely on their primary lamps? I can say there is a 100% chance you have been behind a vehicle which had no working tail lamps (and a working high-mounted stop lamp) and you did not rear-end them or even come close.

[Qxxx4]

Cant this guy go b**** somewhere else. really, are you just here to piss people off? we dont have that vibe on this forum. were open to whatever people feel like doing and we dont need b****y people on here being an A**hole. stop acting like peoples mom and telling them whats right or wrong. Frig if i was a senile prick like you id be out on toyota corrolla forums letting them all know their bad drivers. sure they may be oblivious to the fact, but do you really think my saying anything will change that??

dude. you got a nice pathfinder, i like it, i like what youve done, but you need to see that this forum has the street guys and the off road guys. the street guys drive in the city ALL the time, why am i going to throw those gorgeous 35" mud tires and a lift on? hmmm..well maybe i can drive over some toyota corrollas....anybody want to buy my 20's?

freedom of speech bro, thats fine, but alot of people on here have tinted the s*** out of everything and they "wont take too kindly" to your comments, so if your just coming on here to start s*it, it just gives us another reason to say...WE NEED A MODERATOR!!!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Also, let me point out that tinted headlights are NOT a safety issue for anybody but the driver of the vehicle with said lamps. There is no reason to hate on people with tinted headlamps since it poses no risk to you or anybody else on the road.

[alexf20c]

Also, let me point out that tinted headlights are NOT a safety issue for anybody but the driver of the vehicle with said lamps. There is no reason to hate on people with tinted headlamps since it poses no risk to you or anybody else on the road.

it poses a risk to me and everybody else, when that driver with tinted headlights can't see 10ft in front of him; especially when he's following a vehicle with tinted taillights.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

it poses a risk to me and everybody else, when that driver with tinted headlights can't see 10ft in front of him; especially when he's following a vehicle with tinted taillights.

Now you're just being an a**.

[alexf20c]

Cant this guy go b**** somewhere else. really, are you just here to piss people off? we dont have that vibe on this forum. were open to whatever people feel like doing and we dont need b****y people on here being an A**hole. stop acting like peoples mom and telling them whats right or wrong. Frig if i was a senile prick like you id be out on toyota corrolla forums letting them all know their bad drivers. sure they may be oblivious to the fact, but do you really think my saying anything will change that??

dude. you got a nice pathfinder, i like it, i like what youve done, but you need to see that this forum has the street guys and the off road guys. the street guys drive in the city ALL the time, why am i going to throw those gorgeous 35" mud tires and a lift on? hmmm..well maybe i can drive over some toyota corrollas....anybody want to buy my 20's?

freedom of speech bro, thats fine, but alot of people on here have tinted the s*** out of everything and they "wont take too kindly" to your comments, so if your just coming on here to start s*it, it just gives us another reason to say...WE NEED A MODERATOR!!!

i'm not suggesting everyone lift their vehicles and put big mud tires on them. i don't see what my vehicle's mods has anything to do with this.

people choose looks over safety and i don't agree with it. it is my opinion. you lecture me on freedom of speech, then criticize me for exercising it. hypocrisy is a beautiful thing, eh?

also, please look up the definition to senile.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

This looks pretty bright to me...

[alexf20c]

This looks pretty bright to me...

they look bright... at night.

these are the ones i'm peeved about:



perhaps yours aren't nearly as dark/obscure, but i still feel the same way about them.

[Qxxx4]

those are way too dark.

Senile - mentally less acute in later life: forgetful, confused, or otherwise mentally less acute in later life

Sir, Im 21, so pretty much most people are later in life to me. You are confused and disoriented on why tinted tails look so cool. LOL

you know what, your alright. just dont come off so strong, everyone who comes off strong seems to get alot of negativity going from the other members and thats just not fun. you a**

fyi...i have aftermarket taillights and they LOOK tinted, but arent, full 100% light output, there is a slight tint inside the glass, but the whole thing is clear so full light output. People who tint over reflectors, now thats a little much but if the tint isnt as dark as that prius its not too bad.

Ive noticed park cars with tinted tails are almost very easy to hit, if it wasnt for the license plates i would have smashed right into them.

[slickroger]

This isn't even an issue.

Safety depends on the driver and that drivers ability to observe his/her surroundings.

Tints on light housings are illegal in texas aren't they?

[alexf20c]

This isn't even an issue.

Safety depends on the driver and that drivers ability to observe his/her surroundings.

Tints on light housings are illegal in texas aren't they?

so it's safe for someone to drive drunk because their inebriation only affects themselves?

tinted lights are illegal in texas, but it is not strongly enforced by either police officers or state inspectors.

[naladude911]

I read most of the posts, but to the OP. My taillights are tinted with VHT niteshades and they shine about 95% of light, compared to the original lenses at 100%.

[fueler]

its not even worth the time to think about this

baja 1000 is this week, i just got back from the race prep in ensenada, most of the trophy trucks have one tiny tail light OH SO UNSAFE IM GONNA CRY

[Densetsu]

Also, let me point out that tinted headlights are NOT a safety issue for anybody but the driver of the vehicle with said lamps. There is no reason to hate on people with tinted headlamps since it poses no risk to you or anybody else on the road.

I respectfully disagree with this. It reduces your visibility, making hitting other things that much easier. People, animals, pedestrians, bikers, parked vehicles, road debris, etc. And if you say "hitting animals/parked vehicles/road debris is harmless", it can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and swerve into oncoming traffic.

That said, is it the "worst idea ever"? No. Honestly, from what I've seen on this board most of you guys have done a good job and have a moderate amount of tint, so you're all in the clear in my books. But I've seen a lot of guys who you can barely effin' see... THAT is dangerous in my books, but these are cases done to the extreme.

You also have to take your surroundings into account. If you're driving in urban areas, tinted headlights are WAY less of an issue because the road is lit up anyways. Rural areas is another thing altogether. I'd never tint my headlights, because I'm out driving on pitch-black, country roads two or three times a week.

Pwning... aren't your taillights required to be red? (it's the law in most if not all Canadian provinces, I'd imagine it'd be similar in NJ.) Yours look a nice shade of amber. Of course, when you're braking your CHMSL will also come on bright red (I assume). Have you ever had a cop give you a hard time?

(Also, OMG, did I just agree with axlef20c? )

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Pwning... aren't your taillights required to be red? (it's the law in most if not all Canadian provinces, I'd imagine it'd be similar in NJ.) Yours look a nice shade of amber. Of course, when you're braking your CHMSL will also come on bright red (I assume). Have you ever had a cop give you a hard time?

Yeah, they are red, in the pic above I have my hazards on to show the blinkers brightness. In the following pic you can see my standard parking lights on. I should have taken a picture with the brakes applied, at night they are super bright and the CHMSL is super bright red. I have yet to change all of the lamps to LED but that is definitely on the to-do list. I haven't yet had any problems with police. I have been followed quite a bit by both NJ state troopers (which are generally pretty unforgiving) as well as town police from several different towns around me during day and night. I haven't had one problem yet, I haven't even been followed. I do suspect that I will get pulled over for a ticket eventually but I have been told that I can just switch back to the factory lenses and get the ticket revoked. I was told this by the guy who did the lights, his shop is in NJ about 20mins. from my home and he said he's never heard of any issues with other customers as well as himself. Of course he would probably say that just to get a customer, but I have yet to have any problems.

Also, these pics are pretty crappy quality.

[alexf20c]

its not even worth the time to think about this

baja 1000 is this week, i just got back from the race prep in ensenada, most of the trophy trucks have one tiny tail light OH SO UNSAFE IM GONNA CRY

leave it to you to compare two wildly different and completely incomparable aspects of the subject. next, you're going to question why they don't have headlights on bullets.

[fueler]

what im wondering is who the hell would tint the tail lights on a prius.

[alexf20c]

what im wondering is who the hell would tint the tail lights on a prius.

they're trying to cut back on light pollution

[fueler]

lol

its dangerous in that car since they move so slow - they r just increasing the chances of being rear-ended

[alexf20c]

lol

its dangerous in that car since they move so slow - they r just increasing the chances of being rear-ended

btw, you can see the guy's reflection in the pic of the prius

[SixGuns]

Adam, you suck...I wanna roll with you next year, man, that must be a blast. You gonna make the race? Just to point something out here...you guys are arguing about something completely retarded and whoever wins this tit-for-tat is still retarded. Tinted lenses probably do obscure vision, but no worse than the guys who run around with the HID headlights all blue and blinding me. That, in my opinion is more dangerous to me, as a driver in another vehicle than someone's lights being dim. What's REALLY retarded is the guys I've seen running HIDs AND tinted lenses. Wtf is the point there, genius? I dunno, I've had my rig next to another car with HIDs with my freakin' 4 off road lights across my roof rack and his hurt the eyes more than mine. So let's all hate on the guys with HIDs...lol

[alexf20c]

Adam, you suck...I wanna roll with you next year, man, that must be a blast. You gonna make the race? Just to point something out here...you guys are arguing about something completely retarded and whoever wins this tit-for-tat is still retarded. Tinted lenses probably do obscure vision, but no worse than the guys who run around with the HID headlights all blue and blinding me. That, in my opinion is more dangerous to me, as a driver in another vehicle than someone's lights being dim. What's REALLY retarded is the guys I've seen running HIDs AND tinted lenses. Wtf is the point there, genius? I dunno, I've had my rig next to another car with HIDs with my freakin' 4 off road lights across my roof rack and his hurt the eyes more than mine. So let's all hate on the guys with HIDs...lol

i prefer tits to tats.

[REZN]

lol. i like your red truck and all butumm hope you like my taillights

[korbeano89]

anybody want to buy my 20's?

do you really want to sell them?

[Empty V]

It's really simple, Alex has opinions and no tact or social skills, end of story.

baja 1000 is this week, i just got back from the race prep in ensenada, most of the trophy trucks have one tiny tail light OH SO UNSAFE IM GONNA CRY

Why the F%^* didn't you say something? I was in Puerto Salinas(south of Puerto Nuevo) last weekend and just had to cancel going down there for the next 3 days today because of work and I had no idea the 1000 was happening. Damn you Adam! Are you going to hit up King of the Hammers next year?

Billy

[Johnsonsrt10]

I'm more into off roading then street style, even tho i drive a qx4, but i think your tail lights look good, especially on a black car. nice job!

[alexf20c]

aww did I hurt little billy's feelings?