I don't jack about window tint. I called a place today to get a quote and they started rattling off all the various tints they offer. Regular tint, ceramic tint and infared tint. I also asked about tinting the windshield and they said they offer a window tint (UV blocking) that is glue on. I'm kinda apprehensive about gluing stuff to the windshield...but then again I know nothing about tint. All I'd like to accomplish is match the tint on the back doors to the front doors and tint the windshield with a UV blocking tint. Yall have any thoughts? Thanks

 

I know nothink except that in PA you can't go too dark, the driver has to be able to make eye contact with pedestrians or you'll get a ticket.

 

In texas 25% is the legal limit. I just dont know if one is better than another or if it even matters?

 

Ceramic used to be the best, but I think there is a newer formula out now, but not sure. Regardless of the darkness/lightness of the tint, you are looking for UV blocking properties. I had 99% clear with 99% UV blocking on my truck and Escape windshield.

I personally installed 99% clear and 99% UV blocking on some of the large windows in our home. The 6x6 bay window was one of them. The library windows were others. The point of that was to protect the Brazilian teak hardwood floor in front of the bay window and the books in the library.

8 years later of full sun exposure for several hours a day, the teak looks the same as other parts of the floor.

This past Saturday when I was towing in 100 degree heat I put my hand on the dashboard to test the temperature. It was warm, but not hot at all. I then put my hand on my leg to try and compare the sensation of heat transfer. I would say the dashboard was ever so slightly warmer than my leg. Very unscientific I know...

I had my hand in the dark parchment color around the instrument cluster just for reference sake. My AC sucks... It blows too, but it only gets down to 57 degrees. I am going to work on that... Point being that the UV tint on the windshield makes life comfortable in the truck. We installed it in the 2016 Escape as well because that windshield is YUUUUUGE and it is our run around car in the GA heat.

I hope this helps.

 

I had my newest car done in ceramic, the front windows had to meet legal standards so they are not as dark as the rest but still pretty dark. The rest are almost black, and they did an "eyebrow" on the windshield. The car had no tint to begin with and when finished it was night and day regarding temps, the AC gets too cold now and I have to turn it up a bit. The eyebrow is great for driving into the sun. Total job was $300 at a small, independent shop. This was on a VW Golf Wagon, 4 panes on each side, back window and eyebrow. I can post before and after pics if you want.
My Superduty came with dark tint already but I don't know what kind it is.

 

In addition, the way I look at it is like this...

The color/darkness creates a shade effect, where the UV blocking properties create the feeling of heat reduction because of the blocked UV.

That may not be right, but that is how I see it.

 

The last time I got tint done, the only choice was how dark I wanted and how big of a strip on the windshield. The law does not approve - but I run 20% on driver/passenger doors and 5% everywhere else with a big windshield strip. Nice and cool in the day and like Stevie Wonder backing up at night (thank God for power windows, lol). I’ve had tint that dark since my first car. I ALWAYS roll all the windows down and turn on the interior lights at traffic stops. Never an issue with ‘too dark’.

Nowadays, you can buy pre-cut tint for specific applications. Last time I looked, it was $80 for crewcab F250/350.

I would ask the tint shop what the differences are for the options they gave you.

 

I think you’re onto something there. The ‘ceramic’ etc definitely have the ability to reflect more heat without ‘darkness’.

I kinda like both. Don’t want those traffic cams to catch me pickin’ my nose!! Lol.

 

I’m having the wife’s new car done tomorrow. Apparently, Ceramic crystalline is the latest in tint magic. I’m looking at close to $400 for a 2020 Toyota Sienna. The tint shop had a heat lamp and sample panes with the different levels of heat rejection and the difference sold me.

 

I just installed the 75% VLT version of on the front windows and windshield. It has made a huge difference in the AC's ability to keep up with the heat introduced into the cabin by sunlight. MN may not get hot for most of the year but when it does, the sunlight is intense. It is possible to self-install if you are patient. The instructions that came with the tint were actually very helpful. The biggest hurdle I had to overcome was removing the backing ply without introducing creases into the tint. If any part of the adhesive side of the tint come together and stick, it's game over for that piece of tint. There will be an uneven line of adhesive that no amount of rubbing with a scraper of the tint onto the glass will get rid of.