Window Tint - Does it really help

[Paradox]

I find it helps once in the car with the A/C going. The sunlight coming in and say hitting your arm skin through the tinted windows is not as hot, but if the car is parked outside, honestly, I find the car gets just as hot.

I had a black 2006 and now a white 2010 both with tinted windows and I can tell you that exterior color IMO plays a very big difference. For me, I get the tint more for looks...

[dmvp]

Just on a quick note, regarding the actual windows on the Gen III. I noticed that my skin didn't get as hot when the sun was shining through the side driver's glass. So I'm thinking that maybe all of the windows have been UV treated.

[wave_slider]

Originally Posted by Paradox

I find it helps once in the car with the A/C going. The sunlight coming in and say hitting your arm skin through the tinted windows is not as hot, but if the car is parked outside, honestly, I find the car gets just as hot.

I had a black 2006 and now a white 2010 both with tinted windows and I can tell you that exterior color IMO plays a very big difference. For me, I get the tint more for looks...

I agree about the exterior color having the largest impact on heat. I tried to convince my wife to get white instead of magnetic gray on her Corolla for that reason. With the dark charcoal interior the car heats up and takes a while to cool down mid-day. We have to start the a/c on max recirculate and on the 3rd or 4th speed. I normally don't drop below 3 mid-day and she has 35% all the way around...

[syncmacd]

Originally Posted by dbacksfan

Here in Phoenix, temperatures are now reaching 106 - 110* F. Does "good" window tinting really help in lowering the internal temperature of the car while it is parked? Will it help to reduce need for AC? Just wondering if anyone has actually read related studies.

The number you are looking for is the solar heat gain coefficient. This is a number between 0 and 1; the lower the number, the more heat is blocked.


Madico Window Films (non ceramic)

http://www.madico.com/WindowFilms/MAC_Specs.asp (ceramic)



Often ceramic films do better with blocking heat, some people find that (older) blended metallic ceramics can also block cell phones and GPS, though the newer films supposedly have corrected that problem.


http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19816

"Huper's ceramic may in fact cause problems with some electronics for these reasons, it contains a conductive ceramic derivative of titanium (a metal), frequency of the electronic equipment is of that able to be disrupted by HO film deposition and the density of the film used (meaning a heavier deposition)."

[wave_slider]

I've seen a demonstration with the ceramic vs. non-ceramic tint using a heat lamp. You can feel the difference in heat coming through the tint. I will opt for ceramic for that reason. Also since the Prius has a lot of electronic "stuff" going on, I think it would be worth it to pay the premium for ceramic film this time.

[seanu]

Originally Posted by wave_slider

I've seen a demonstration with the ceramic vs. non-ceramic tint using a heat lamp. You can feel the difference in heat coming through the tint. I will opt for ceramic for that reason. Also since the Prius has a lot of electronic "stuff" going on, I think it would be worth it to pay the premium for ceramic film this time.

I just did Huper Optik and it makes a huge difference in comfort, it was expensive but worth every penny.

[wave_slider]

I just did mine in Llumar ceramic and I am very happy with it. It not only makes the car look better, but helps with the heat. I'm glad I got blizzard pearl and dark gray interior. My tint guy said that the ceramic does make a little bit of a difference for reception, but that he didn't think the price difference was worth it. I did ceramic anyway. What's an extra $100 when I spent $1800 on the NAV.

[Edward Walsh]

Originally Posted by wave_slider

I just did mine in Llumar ceramic and I am very happy with it. It not only makes the car look better, but helps with the heat. I'm glad I got blizzard pearl and dark gray interior. My tint guy said that the ceramic does make a little bit of a difference for reception, but that he didn't think the price difference was worth it. I did ceramic anyway. What's an extra $100 when I spent $1800 on the NAV.

Hi:

When you get a chance could you take some 'pics' of your 'baby' and post them. I have a Blizzard Pearl coming the beginning of September and plan to tint the windows. Curious how it will look.

Thanks,

Edward
Marystown, Newfoundland
Canada

[RadioZero]

scroll through my clear bra install and towards the end you will see the Llumar ceramic tint. the new Air Blue on the windshield and ATX50 on the sides and the rear.

i am a big fan of Llumar.

Collection: 2010 Prius

[liverbomb88]

The Llumar Air Blue intrigues me because I'm not a big fan of dark tints. 3M also has a similar product line called Crystalline. I'm hoping both can also be applied to the windshield and remain CA legal. I'm starting to call around to the various tint shops in the San Diego area -- Mr. Tint in Escondido carries Air Blue...still looking for a shop that carries 3M Crystalline. Any recommendations on shops would be appreciated.

Llumar Air Blue:
Visible Light Transmittance: 78%
Total Solar Energy Rejected: 43%
Visible Light Reflected: 9%
Ultraviolet Rejected: 99.9%

3M Crystalline: