50 is pretty light. The tint shop owner said the most common set up is, 20% on the 3 back windows and 35% on the two fronts to give the illusion that the fronts aren't tinted. We are also in SoCal which is typically very sunny, so someone in say Minnesota may have much less need for this. The thing I have found with high quality ceramic, is that the tint looks different (darker) on the outside than it does on the inside, which is awesome in terms of visibility.
I also have Formula One Pinnacle 50. If you think it is too light, go with a 35 (if legal in your state). You can get sample film at a tint shop before deciding. Ultimately you have decide if privacy is the paramount reason for the tint job, or whether you just want heat/UV protection.
Of the years I have been tinting windows, I have only tinted about 4 cars with 50%...
Totally agree with scottdk. 50% is too light. 20% is too dark and 35% suits most people just right. I have ceramic 35% all the way around on mine and it looks uniform. I was thinking about 20% for the back window, but I just pull up the rear sunshade if the sun is really blaring . 20% is fine during the day, but at night really starts to affect your outward vision, especially if you live someplace semi rural.
Of the years I have been tinting windows, I have only tinted about 4 cars with 50%...
Totally agree with scottdk. 50% is too light. 20% is too dark and 35% suits most people just right. I have ceramic 35% all the way around on mine and it looks uniform. I was thinking about 20% for the back window, but I just pull up the rear sunshade if the sun is really blaring . 20% is fine during the day, but at night really starts to affect your outward vision, especially if you live someplace semi rural.
My other car I just tinted a metallic film and it's considered 19%. Looks awesome. It's not a flashy car, so I won't be bothered by law enforcement. Hell, I've tinted many officers personal cars and they get........35%
They also state they don't care about tint and wouldn't even ticket someone for it since theirs is not legal in MN either.
Musher51 has the same tint as I do (Formula One Pinnacle 50) and he posted pics of his car on this forum (see member list). I am very happy with my Pinnacle 50 ceramic tint job. I agree that not many people get a 50, and my installer had to special order the film after trying to talk me into a 35. Pinnacle 50 is going to look a little darker than a smoke 50 because it reflects more light.
Of the years I have been tinting windows, I have only tinted about 4 cars with 50%. When the customers came to pick up their vehicle, they asked why I had not started tinting their car yet and why I called them to pick their car up.
50% is hardly noticable in many light conditions depending on film, and they didn't even know their car was tinted.
With that said, even though I warned them how light 50% is, they wanted to be legal in MN. I've tinted the same customers a couple of years later on different cars, and they did 35% and were very happy.
Thought you might like to know others experiences. Of course this doesn't mean that 50% wouldn't satisfy you, I've just never met someone with legal tint in MN because it looks like clear glass.
In my experience, 35% seems to be the happy medium for most people. If it would help you out, I could email you pictures of cars I have tinted and you could decide for yourself what looks right percentage wise.
No way you can get Hyper Optik for that price unless you personally know the installer. Not all film is the same, and Huper Optik film is very expensive. I was quoted $400 for Huper Optik and many people have paid a lot more than that. But the best time to deal on tinting is in the winter.
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