TINTING 101

[RadMarv]

[size=18][b]Hello [you]

Before making a snap decision to just quickly go to your nearest local tint shop to have your car tinted, I suggest that you do some research and decide which type/brand of tint you want to use.

Most tint dealers/installers carry only very specific brands, not all of them.

Some brands of tint are difficult to find locally and may not be found in many states.

Every brand of tint has different colors, compositions, characteristics, heat rejection, reflectiveness and visable light transmission(VLT=DARKNESS). Nearly all give 99% UV protection.

Warranties differ greatly too. And watch out for those! You may get one with a lifetime warranty against FADING but not COLOR CHANGE.

Every state has its own tint law regarding how every window can or cannot be tinted. Most state laws limit the amount of reflectiveness and VLT allowed on the front side windows, the back side windows and the rear window.

Solar Gard has a very nice State Tint Law chart(Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

View State Tint Law chart

To find out more about tinting check out these links...

Tintcenter

Tintdude Forum

to learn about the different tint film manufacturers check out these links...

Llumar
FormulaOne
Madico
3M
HuperOptik
Johnson
Sungard
Solar Gard
Suntek
V-Kool

There are some others. Some are cheap and some are expensive.

You should also go and check out your dealers/installers and actually view the tints and their work.

Finally, Enjoy your research! Have fun! And enjoy your newly tinted Prius!

[dreichla]

Wow - thanks for the homework. I know what I'm going to be doing for a couple of hours!

[Bill Merchant]

[font=Comic Sans MS:b9abb5aa04]Thanks Marv! Your post belongs in the Knowledge Base! I've been reading about tints here on PriusChat in lots of different threads, but never has the information been so concisely presented.

Thanks again![/font:b9abb5aa04]

[Fredatgolf]

Funny thing is I never saw this post until this morning and I had my windows tinted several weeks ago. We are restricted in NC in how much we can tint. I did do some research and came up with a Madico dealer. He's been tinting cars for 20 years and gives a liftime guarantee. He did a nice job. Thanks to RadMarv.

[dawall]

Thanks Marv
Got the windows tinted shortly after puchasing our car. Went ahead an did the formula one pinnacle 50, at the Concord shop (~$300). It looks real nice on the car, performs well and the the optical quality is great. I appreciate referral.

Thanks again.

Dan

[kazu88]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RadMarv\";p=\"96894)</div>

[size=18]Hello [you]
!

Huh? Why is this directed at me? Is there another "kazu88" on this forum???

[V8Cobrakid]

it's a tag.. you can have it display who's reading it.. kinda like a smiley.. just.. code

[kazu88]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"100385)</div>

it's a tag.. you can have it display who's reading it.. kinda like a smiley.. just.. code[/b]

thanks. somehow it freaked me out!
ukeright:

[eastercat]

Thanks for the post. If I ever get my windows
tinted, I'll use this post for information.

BTW, you might want to mention that states
(e.g., Georgia) have the right to ticket out of
state cars for tint that exceeds their regulations.

Thanks again for your work,
Esther

[AfonsoSilva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"100385)</div>

it's a tag.. you can have it display who's reading it.. kinda like a smiley.. just.. code
[/b]

Hey Guys,

Actually, Marv cut and paste from a message he posted in reply to a thread I started a few weeks ago. I am AfonsoSilva!

Thanks again, Marv! Your insight has been of great value. I am currently in contact with a Suntek dealer (quoted a job for $170) and a HuperOptik dealer (no quote yet). I will keep everyone posted on which direction I go.

My major concern is whether tinting the windows will degrade the cell phone and the GPS reception. Any further insight on this, Marv?