Guys I'm looking to finally get tint installed, but I don't know where to start. I've called a few shops and they're all around $200 for the sides and rear + $125 for the windshield. In GA, the legal limit is 32% and nothing on the windshield. I have a few questions though...

1. Should I tint the windshield? I think it would help the sides blend better, so it's not so obvious that they are dark. If I do, how much do I tint it? My friend has 35% on his windshield and I could see out of it well; I don't know about at night though. Maybe just go with 50%?

2. What brand of tint should I go with? One shop wants to use Sun-Gard Endurance, their highest level of tint, but it does contain metal and other shops have told me this looks too silver. They also carry Sun-Gard Shadow (non-metallic) but they only use this on BMW's and Benz's he said. The other shop wants to use 3M Nano-Carbon, he said it is non-metallic and very black looking.

3. Does illegal tint void any warranty I could possibly get from the shop or through the manufacturer? Sun-Gard's website said they offer a lifetime warranty on everything, but I'm wondering if it's different for illegal %. I want some kind of guarantee as far as protection from peeling and cracking.

4. Does anyone have experience with being pulled over for illegal tint? Did you get a fix-it ticket or did they give you a citation with a monetary penalty? I've heard of charges between $75-500.

5. Does anyone have any recommendations for shops in the metro Atlanta area?

Thank you!

 

Well I'll answer what I can. Although you asked some interesting questions, I'll say that.

1. My opinion would be skip the windshield. My car is 15% all around except for the windshield and it looks fine.

2. I went with the brand they had, have no clue what it was nor did I care. It's still perfect to this day. Longevity comes from the install quality more so than the tint quality.

3. I can not think of any warranty that tint (legal or illegal) could void. It's just tint.

4. Been pulled over for Tint once in the many years I've been driving with illegal tint. Got a citation, paid it and life went on. Still have the tint to this day.

5. I live in PA, so I can't recommend anything for you in GA. Sorry. ha ha.

 

Well I can tell you I am a cop and could care less about tint unless you are a dirtbag and I'm looking for something else but I know alot of cops who do give tint tickets. As far as fix it tickets that depends on your state. In Louisiana we dont have "fix it" tickets, all tickets have a fine attached.

I have my Stang tinted with 20% on sides and rear and Im getting ready to strip it off and get limo tint. Not sure what the brand of tint is but its the standard stuff that my tinter uses. I have had several cars done and have never had a problem. A few things to keep in mind about the windshield, If your state has inspection stickers that go on the windshield, you will never be able to get the stickers in the exact spot that has no tint so you will have areas that will be very obvious the tint is messed up. Also tint on the windshield is a HUGE reason for most cops to stop you. It is so obvious and a violation in all 50 states.

As far as your warranty, tint will not void any factory warranty with the car unless there is a factory warranty on the glass, which I dont think there is. The stealership would have a hard time arguing that tint on the glass had anything to do with the engine or something. My advice is to use the tint that your tinter recomends and check with some cops in your area, ask them if tint is enforced and how much the ticket costs. It would be stupid to pay $200 for tint to get a $300 ticket when you drive home from the shop.

 

Yeah guys as far as the warranty, the question asks about warranty on the tint not on the car. And my neighbor is a cop, so maybe I'll ask him what he thinks.

 

Dont know about warranty on tint but like I said I have had several cars tinted and never had a problem with the tint.

 

Make sure you aren't getting dyed tint. That's the stuff that turns purple

 

When I bough my Vapor mustang everyone told me to go with the new metalized tint...I thought I do not want the 80's Mirror tint. I ended up going with the new "metalized" tint and it is great. I have an Explorer with "illegal" tint and there are tones of differences between the two. For one I can see thru the legal tint at night way better on the mustang and the heat does not come in the car like it does my explorer. The metalized tint does not fade like the dye tint and it blocks way more uv rays which is better for the interior. I was lucky enought that I got to see the dye tint and the metalized tint on vehicles before I decided. The metalized is not as "dark" but the slight reflection makes it really hard to see in the car.

I pulled this off Autoshades website which is where we have everything tinted.

Metalized. Metalized films are produced by taking bulk transparent metal flakes and sputter coating it onto a glue, which gives great optical clarity and the relfective appearance. Metalized films are NOT your dated 80's silver window films however. They do have a great appearance and out perform a dyed based films. Metal based films block out more heat than a dyed based film, and will never break down from constant UV exposure and triple digit heat. Our Metal based films reject 56% of heat with a film of visible light transmission of 32%.

Also I have a glass roof and opted to put a clear film of metalized tint on the roof for the uv factor and WOW!!! Before the tint you could feel the heat beating off of you head but now you do not have that!!

 

BTW in Washington State we can get "fix" it tickets for window tint and if the same cop is to see you and knows that he gave you a warning you will get a ticket. If they really want to prove a point they can make you take the tint off of the windows on the side of the road!! It is totally illegal to tint the front windshield here.

 

Yeah I rarely give tint tickets because I really dont care. I think tint makes cars look great. But a tinted windshield is a different story. Most people here don't do it. Some of the ones I do see tinted are done with 50% which is barely noticible and will just put a reflective coating on your windshield, I dont give tickets for that.

 

Solar guard makes a good product. Some shops will go darker but will not warranty it because because of liability issues. I had a cousin to tint mine. He tints professionally. He says you can get away with tinting the rear glasses darker b/c the cops have no way of testing it. My stang has been tinted that way for almost 3 years now. I haven't been pulled over yet. I live near Conyers Ga, where the police will pull you over for anything. Advice- (Check the clearance on the pads that are on the door window guides. They are known to scratch the tint.) Stay away from windshield tint. I don't think that is legal.