Tinting the prius 2010..good idea or bad?

I have to say, if you don't mind coming out to Thousand Oaks, Precision Tint do top notch work. Have had probably 5 cars done by them over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. No pealing, bubbles, fading. Will be looking at $225 they said when I bring my car in for all the windows plus the sunshade. $200 without the windshield sunshade. They are on the corner of T.O. Blvd. and Erbes Rd. Make an appointment, they are always busy. Good luck.

 

For anyone interested in finding out what is legal in your state, try tintcenter.com.

In Texas, 25% light transmission is required for the side windows. You have to take the factory glass into account for measuring light transmission. If you multiply .35 x .74 shown in Rick's chart, you get 26% light transmission, so the standard 35% tint is legal here for the side windows.

If you have dual mirrors, as on the Prius, the rear window can be as dark as you like. If you are trying to match the upper and lower parts of the rear window, you would probably only do the upper part, since that would bring it to 26%, which is close enough to the factory 29% on the lower part. I posted pictures of my rear tint (with no tint on lower portion) HERE.

In Texas, you can also do the upper 5" of the front windshield, or to the "AS-1 line", whatever that means.

There is a bill in Texas legislature to increase the light transmission to 35%, thereby reducing the amount of tint allowed to something like 50%, but I doubt that bill will go anywhere.

 

I've noticed the red and blue look a lot darker when not in the sun. I originally liked the blue but then I saw one in the shade and it's too dark for me to want to try and keep clean. Love it in the sun!

 

Hey ssekian, would you happen to have any pics of your 20% tinted windows? Are you guys using the ceramic (non-metallic) Llumar film? I've always tinted my windows, but have never used the ceramic because of cost. With the Prius having so much more going on with the electronics, I figured the ceramic would be better for reducing any interference.
ggood thank you for the links. I thought there was some tint on the rear bottom window. I've been trying to figure out how dark to go and that bottom window seemed darker than the rest.

 

see Rick's chart

 

I say tint them ...

15% all the way around (except for lower hatch)

 

Does anyone have advice on Suntek high performance or 3m metalized tinting? I'm going to tint the windows to 30%; have 3M color stable with 35% and according to their site this allows 38% light transmission... I think...

 

I dont even own a Prius yet, but I am planning to buy one. And I am planning to get the NAv package and such. I think tinting is good just for the sake of not really being able to see whats inside the car. What is a good reasonable percentage tint to keep thieves away, anybody know
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Also, I would like to add, I think anybody living in Texas (well most of it) NEEDS window tint. All of y'all (lol) texas fellows would know that it can get so hot here we rather not go out during the day at all. Just last week we hit record high above 96 F here in Houston. Just my opinion

 

Tint really isn't going to help any. In fact, no tint would be the best theft deterant combined with keeping your seats, floor, and hatch area free of ANYTHING that didn't come with the car from the factory. No coats, sunglasses or anything. Bums and meth-heads will break into cars just to steal a coat let alone electronics or CDs.The idea is based on the fact that they can see into the car an they know there is nothing to steal. With dark tinted windows they can't see what is in the hatch area and may break in just to find out.

 

I was also personally thinking of tinting the windows on my package IV when it arrives, but in New Jersey, You are not legally allowed to put any tint on the front windows and that just doesn't look good.

 

I suppose you are right, but it is not loose random items in the car I am afraid of it being stolen, but rather the NAV system itself, which draws attention.

 

Pretty much every new car has a double DIN NAV looking stereo or information console so I'm not sure there is much you can do to hide the fact the Prius has one too. It doesn't matter if you have NAV or not, the units still look the same and are unlikely to be stolen. You would have to run 15% or darker tint to try and hide the dashboard and that is not legal in most states that I know of. In all honestly I wouldn't worry about the factory parts too much. I've never had a customer come in that had their factory NAV stolen, just the aftermarket stuff. I think you'll be ok mate.

 

nice pic Husker. it looks more like 5%. slick. what did u do on the lower hatch window?

 

I'll put up pics today when I get home from work. We are using the ceramic Llumar film.

 

I did nothing to the lower hatch window and it works out well that way.

 

You are right, thanks. Maybe it's been the Salsa Red I've seen on Generation 2 that I like. But I still like the Barcelona. But the more maroon red looks better to me.

Also, Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread and start a separate conversation about "red".

 

No worries bru. We can be like the pirates of PC! Roaming around hijacking threads.

 

I don't know if this is true, but I was told that by tinting the windows it reinforces the window and makes it harder for thieves to "smash and grab". While it certainly isn't going to stop a determined thief perhaps it slows them down enough that they will move on.

It would be interesting to see if there were statistics to see if tinted cars were more or less likely to be broken into, adjusting for tint in geographic areas. For instance, I'm certain that Los Angeles has a higher rate of car tint and a higher rate of car break ins.

I would suspect that a non tinted car without any belongings visible would be the least likely to be broken into. I would suspect, though, that a tinted car would be the next least likely. Why put your face up close to a car window and draw attention to yourself or break in and find nothing available when you could probably find a car without tint and valuables easily seen from the outside?

Here is an interesting video I found about window tint, though I'm certain there is some dramatic license taken.