Opinions on tail lights
03-16-2012, 05:56 PM
#43
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: California, Colorado
Posts: 695
I thought about getting tinted rear lights, turns and headlights and then consulted my cousin who is dating a Denver PD guy, who said that tinted lights were a surefire way to get unwanted attention and prolly a ticket. So I just did the AVS louvers instead and it looks better, more stock IMO with the blackout panel. Sorry, no pics
03-17-2012, 01:57 AM
#46
The lights are going to be easy to see at night because there's that much less interference going on with other light and glare. Daytime is going to be the hardest time to see tail (more importantly, brake) lights through "smoked" lenses, though.
Think about it this way: if you're listening for a pin drop (trying to see a light flash), when would it be easier? When a freight train is passing by, with lots of audio-interference (at daytime)? Or when there's no other sound going on?
Think about it this way: if you're listening for a pin drop (trying to see a light flash), when would it be easier? When a freight train is passing by, with lots of audio-interference (at daytime)? Or when there's no other sound going on?
Last edited by bakerjd; 03-17-2012 at 02:02 AM.
03-17-2012, 06:07 AM
#47
Is the tide gonna reach my chair?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Nor'east
Posts: 4,389
those are exactly what I'm talking about. Every time you step on the brake, the lights flash.
And it doesn't speak to the "politeness" of the traffic, just the irritation of the damn sequentials lighting up every time the idiot in front of me steps on the brake pedal. The last time I sat behind that I wanted to rear end him just to make it go away. I was in a company car at the time, though.
And it doesn't speak to the "politeness" of the traffic, just the irritation of the damn sequentials lighting up every time the idiot in front of me steps on the brake pedal. The last time I sat behind that I wanted to rear end him just to make it go away. I was in a company car at the time, though.
03-17-2012, 06:11 AM
#48
Is the tide gonna reach my chair?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Nor'east
Posts: 4,389
Thanks. I have the upper and lower black billet. It's the overlay kit and I was able to install myself. No overheat issues in my climate.
03-17-2012, 10:37 AM
#50
Daytime visibility is the biggest issue. You have 3 problems with tinting tail lights:
1) In bright sun the lights are not bright enough to be seen quickly & easily, especially at the required 200' distance.
2) Any sun glare on the exterior surface of the lens/lens cover will make the lights too dim to see at 200'. Having a matte surface on the outside of the lens cover would help this.
3) The tail light surface is designed with reflex, it is a pyramid shaped surface on the inside surface of the outside lens. Basically, if another car is behind you and they have their lights on, it will make your tail light lens glow as if it were lighted. Adding any tint will reduce or eliminate the briteness of the reflex. The reflex is dimmed by twice the tinting rate.
I am a retired Engineer, I have more than a few years in automobile design & testing, I know what I am talking about, I am not voicing an "opinion", this is based on fact. Matter of fact, I designed a couple versions of the fox body tail & marker lights from the mid to late 80's.
I am pretty sure that most police departments will not ticket you for the tinted tail lights.
But having tinted tail lights and getting rear ended should get you the "at fault" ticket because you reduced the visibility of the OEM safety equipment (lights & reflex). You might get lucky and maybe the cop doesn't notice, but I would not count on it.
1) In bright sun the lights are not bright enough to be seen quickly & easily, especially at the required 200' distance.
2) Any sun glare on the exterior surface of the lens/lens cover will make the lights too dim to see at 200'. Having a matte surface on the outside of the lens cover would help this.
3) The tail light surface is designed with reflex, it is a pyramid shaped surface on the inside surface of the outside lens. Basically, if another car is behind you and they have their lights on, it will make your tail light lens glow as if it were lighted. Adding any tint will reduce or eliminate the briteness of the reflex. The reflex is dimmed by twice the tinting rate.
I am a retired Engineer, I have more than a few years in automobile design & testing, I know what I am talking about, I am not voicing an "opinion", this is based on fact. Matter of fact, I designed a couple versions of the fox body tail & marker lights from the mid to late 80's.
I am pretty sure that most police departments will not ticket you for the tinted tail lights.
But having tinted tail lights and getting rear ended should get you the "at fault" ticket because you reduced the visibility of the OEM safety equipment (lights & reflex). You might get lucky and maybe the cop doesn't notice, but I would not count on it.