Window Tint Advice

They say it has a greenish tint, then a pinkish tint? Come on what is it? Actually I don't care. My car has been fine with it for over a year and looks better than most people's tint jobs. Billnchristy's looks great too.

 

Mine has a lifetime warranty too so I have no worries.

Where does that guy live, inside a volcano?

 

This must be a tint manufacturer's or installer's interpretation of the law. It is full of misinformation and in direct contradiction of the vehicle code.
Per the California Vehicle Code, 26708 (a) (2) "No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the windshield or side windows which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows."
There are several exceptions, such as for medical reasons, in which case a letter signed by the driver's or passenger's doctor must be in the vehicle, and the devices must not be used at night. But nothing I could find allows for the tinting most people want in their cars.
"Not withstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be insalled, affixed, or applied"... yada, yada, yada- provided the following conditions are met:
"The material has a minimum light transmittance of 88%." (Not 70%) It goes on to say that the window with it applied has to meet federal standards including minimum light transmittance of 70%, and certificates are required in the vehicle from both the manufacturer of the material and the installing company stating that the requirements in place in California are met. That is for CLEAR and COLORLESS tint, so what would be the point if you are going for looks?
As a corporate chauffeur, I drove a car with limo tint on the rear windows and the very lightest tint on the front side windows. A CHP officer came up an onramp to the freeway and immediately spotted me four lanes over and proceeded to stop and cite me for illegal window tint.

 

You should really edit your post for clarity because it's difficult to read.

The 88% is for the material itself. The aforementioned link did say that the 70% percentage refers to the percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window, as you stated below.

88% is light enough to be "clear and colorless," but you're right, it's technically illegal to tint the front side windows as the factory glass is already tinted ~75% so any film currently on the market would put the aggregate below 70%. However, you're unlikely to be bothered if you stay stick with 50% film on the front side windows. Go below that and you greatly increase your risk of getting pulled over.

Lots of chauffeur cars have dark tints even on the front side windows. Maybe the cops were looking for an excuse to pull you over if they suspected you of something. I drove around with 35% smoke for 10 years in a previous car without getting ticketed, even when I was cited twice for not having a front license plate.

 

Carbon and XP are guaranteed for life including fading.

Can't wait to see your install. Grey looks nice with tint I found out today!

 

I went with either 15% or 20%(dont totally remember) on everything but front windshield

 

blacktastic!

 

Guess what guys, I went out to my car today and my windows are pink. Psyche!

The hard truth, every tint will eventually fade, but not in 5 years. And certainly not before that high quality Toyota paint job fades. So it's ridiculous to be that concerned.

 

I think the pink will go well with your blue and my grey anyways.

 

Told ya Does it look as pink as boca's car?

This is true. People who are accustomed to 5% limo tints are often surprised how dark it is when they have a new 5% film applied.

 

pink -->

pink:


pink:


Not pink:

 

Oh your car is grey...damn I thought it was blue in your little picture.

 

I'm really glad you had a good experience in the end. That Huber Optik looks good. Thank you for sharing.

 

Looks great. It's better have the sides look even. I prefer it that way than too dark in the rear relative to the front.

 

It's a wash for me. It looks better even but it's also illegal. 18% is a fair compromise. It may be weird to hear but unfortunately my tint does not even look that dark in person, compared to that picture.

I'm actually proud of the fact that despite a slight grunge look my car is completely street legal.

 

What was your decision? I have 5% on the rear (doors and hatch) and 20% on the front doors.

 

Someone who's into modding is proud that it's street legal? That isn't going to last long, especially with your next car