Getting her tinted this week...

[BrianK]

So I've read up all I could on here about the tint for our cars and it looks like I'm going to go with the Ceramic tint. Just wanted to see if that is what everyone is going with?

Will any ceramic tint do or should I go with the Huper Optic tint? There's only one HO dealer here in Houston and I can't find any reviews on them, but I know of a good shop that I've used in the past (but no HO available there).

As always, thanks for the help!!

 

[topspeed]

BrianK, I just had my windows tinted last week with 3M Colorstable carbon tint which is non metallic. I am pleased with the result.

 

[Mark_888]

Carbon tint film looks really nice, but there are no particles in the film to reflect heat. They actually absorb the sun's rays, as opposed to reflecting them.

Huper Optic is a ceramic tint film. It was originally designed for commercial office buildings, and is a bit thicker than most other tint films, and is a little harder to install in cars since it was designed for absolutely flat windows, and usually is pretty expensive.

Another ceramic option which many on this forum have installed (including me) is Formula One Pinnacle. Formula One is the high end line of Llumar Tint Films. Not a huge number of installers for Formula One, but usually more than Huper Optic. Here is one dealer for Formula One in Houston:
http://xperttintandalarms.com/contact-x-pert-tint-and-alarms-houston-tx.htm

There are lots of threads on tint film in this forum.

 

[BrianK]

Thanks for the advice! I will look into the FormulaOne shop tomorrow.

 

[jigboy22]

I can second the quality of Formula one's pinnacle. Got it in May and it makes a big difference in temperature as well as looks.

Good luck

 

[Big_tugg]

I can second the quality of Formula one's pinnacle. Got it in May and it makes a big difference in temperature as well as looks.

Good luck

Same here get the pinnacle!

 

[Philth]

I have Pinnacle and like it. Wife's car has Suntek Carbon XP and it's a great film too.

 

[Slope]

FWIW, I just had mine tinted with Llumar ceramic, 35% all around. It's not as dark as I would have liked but the difference in temperature is notable. Most of my friends and family say it looks great!

 

[bmbutler]

FWIW, I just had mine tinted with Llumar ceramic, 35% all around. It's not as dark as I would have liked but the difference in temperature is notable. Most of my friends and family say it looks great!

Got my Genny tinted last Thursday to the highest that NC allows - I think it was 35%. BIG difference in temperature in the car, glare from the sun and it looks great too!

 

[Big_tugg]

35% pinn

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[QuantumRift]

we went with a ceramic tint (forget the brand name now) last year when we got the Genny in July. Been a year, and it's been good. We also had a 'tint strip' across the top of front windshield that helps as well - not legal to tint front window here in AZ, but the strip is wide enough and above my eye level. Now it MIGHT hinder view at a drive-in movie, but that's another subject.

Metallic tints can often interfere with radar detectors, so be aware of that if you use one. Metallic tints can also interfere with cellphone reception INSIDE the car. Just a possibility if you, say, live in or frequent 'fringe reception areas"...out here in SE AZ, I know several people who had the metallic tinting and removed it for ceramic after their cellphone reception went to doo-doo....as wel have areas here that are very fringe.

 

[BrianK]

Thanks for the advice/tips! I'm going to try and get this done tomorrow (with the formula one).

 

[Ruissimo]

I went with a metallic film... and today, my brother was amazed at how much cooler my car was than his, especially since mine is black and his is silver.

It really DOES make a huge difference. And I've had no radio interference from this type of film either.

FWIW.

 

[jokka81]

Any reputable places in Chicago?

 

[Mark_888]

I have found that shops that carry Formula One Pinnacle typically have very good installers. This place might be in your area:
http://www.umbrawindowtinting.com/

 

[Shifty]

Just got mine done yesterday! The shop I went to stop carrying Optik, so I went with the Solar Gard ceramic 40% all the way around (windshield included). It was exactly what I had in mind, dark enough but not too dark. Doing the windshield really makes the whole thing look darker while maintaining legal limits (except the windshield). I forgot about the whole "Don't put your windows down for 3 days and don't clean the windows for a month", that's the worst part.

 

[SmoovC]

Just got back from tint with mine:

Solargard HP Supreme 16 on the sides, HP Supreme 4 on the back window only, Johnson Insulatir IR 60 on the windshield.

 

[Mark_888]

Just got back from tint with mine:

Solargard HP Supreme 16 on the sides, HP Supreme 4 on the back window only, Johnson Insulatir IR 60 on the windshield.

I guess they must not strictly enforce tint laws in Washington State. The actual limits for WA are 70% on the side windows, and 50% on the back (rear) window.

 

[SmoovC]

I guess they must not strictly enforce tint laws in Washington State. The actual limits for WA are 70% on the side windows, and 50% on the back (rear) window.

I believe you have Washington State confused with Washington DC. The specs you stated are for DC.

Washington State: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/WA/

Washington DC: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/DC/

 

[Mark_888]

I believe you have Washington State confused with Washington DC. The specs you stated are for DC.

Washington State: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/WA/

Washington DC: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/DC/

The site I checked did list WA in chart as I described it, but when I selected the state from a drop down box on the same site it said 35% for WA (as of 1993). There is some kind of bug in the website:
http://www.tintlaws.com/

But your link says the WA tint laws were updated again in 2011 to 24% LTR, which is correct. Of course, you are still illegal, but not a much as before. Also, those numbers are "net" of the factory glass LTR and the tint film LTR added together, so the actual LTR of a legal aftermarket tint film that can be applied needs to be more than 24% (I am guessing close to 35%).

The maximum level of net film sunscreening to be applied to any window, except the windshield, shall have ... a light transmission of twenty-four percent or more"

"Net film screening" means the total sunscreening or coloring material applied to the window that includes both the material applied by the manufacturer during the safety glazing and any film sunscreening or coloring material applied after the vehicle is manufactured.​

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.430​