Need window tinting advice, please!

[Av8tor]

I wonder what % the Ford configurator is using for the front. 50% or 70%?

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[grigsby]

This is a Star White with 35% on the front, but it's a cloudy day, so It looks darker than it would in the sun.

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Confirmed that the Star White had 35% at the beginning of the thread, and the Red at the end had 35%

Thank you! That's very helpful.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Ah, that is interesting. Yes, we were looking to go pretty dark to contrast the Star White paint job, but I hadn't considered that the California tinting limit might not actually look very dark. Thank you for pointing this out! I guess I'll have to decide if it's worth risking getting a ticket for...

Hawaii and California have the same basic tinting laws. I got the front sides gone in a ceramic tint and they look great. Are they as dark as the rear sides? No. But they look great. People outside the car can obviously see a person in those seats, but your features are pretty obscured. I say go for it.

 

[connoisseurr]

I recommend Llumar film for vehicle window tinting. Depending on your local regulations, go as dark as you like worh Formula One Pinnacle and Stratos. In locales where tinting is more restricted, look at the Air Tint options from Llumar.

My recent vehicles have had Pinnacle or Stratos for all side and rear windows, as well as the panoramic roofs. Windshields are either Air Tint 70 or Pinnacle 50. For those who are trying to reject as much heat as possible, there’s no point spending the money on quality IR rejecting film, if you don’t tint every piece of glass (this includes the windshield).

I’ve also used both 3M and XPEL products in the past. I think both are great however 3M crystalline can be very pricey, and I’ve found tint installers using fake 3M film in the past. XPEL, another great product but I’ve found the XR lines to scratch much easier than 3M and Llumar brands.

 

[grigsby]

Thanks, everyone, for all your advice. I found a local place that seems reliable based on extensive Yelp reviews and the fact that it seems like they do a lot of expensive cars. I'll just ask them to match the rear windows as close as possible and see what they say.

 

[Bayviews88]

Thanks, everyone, for all your advice. I found a local place that seems reliable based on extensive Yelp reviews and the fact that it seems like they do a lot of expensive cars. I'll just ask them to match the rear windows as close as possible and see what they say.

What did you end up applying to the front windows and how was the experience with the shop? I’m looking to do something similar to my car here in the Bay Area.

 

[krazieboy]

I have 3m crystalline all around. 60% front windshield, 20% front side windows, 40% rear on top of stock tint would give roughtly a 12-14%. I wish i went a little bit darker on the hatch as i can still see though it if i'm up close on a bright day. The glass roof does let in extra light, which is something i didn't account for.

In CA, windshield can't be tinted, front sides can't be darker than 35%. rears can be as dark as you want. FYI.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I only had my rears done. I live in a town where they will bust you for anything. Already been pulled over 5 times for my front license plate wrap (which is legal, they haven’t pulled me over in more than 2 weeks, so I think the word has gotten around the PD now). ??‍? That said, I only get my tints done at Auto Image in Belmont. They do great work and stand behind their work. ??

 

[grigsby]

What did you end up applying to the front windows and how was the experience with the shop? I’m looking to do something similar to my car here in the Bay Area.

To be honest, I have no idea what kind of film is on there. I went to a shop that had a lot of good reviews on yelp and just asked the guy to match the front tint to the factory rear tint. And I have no idea what film he uses. There is a ton of information in this thread about the different manufacturers and characteristics and UV blocking etc. etc. I guess I just decided I didn't want to put that much effort into learning every discerning detail about films, and just let the guy do his thing. Also, I figured if it didn't turn out very well, I could just remove it and/or take it somewhere else. But he did a great job. The tint is very close and it looks great. I'm a stickler for detail, and I don't even notice the difference between the front and rear unless I stand just in the right position looking through both windows at just the right angle looking for a difference, and even then it's hard to see. So I'm very happy with it, even though I have no idea what kind of film he used.

 

[Garbone]

I only had my rears done. I live in a town where they will bust you for anything. Already been pulled over 5 times for my front license plate wrap (which is legal, they haven’t pulled me over in more than 2 weeks, so I think the word has gotten around the PD now). ??‍? That said, I only get my tints done at Auto Image in Belmont. They do great work and stand behind their work. ??

Funny, my suggestion would be to find the shop that does the local Police cruisers and have them do yours to the exact same level. Those guys live in their cars so they usually use the better shops and it if they ask about the tint on a stop just say "oh the place that does your cruisers did mine. I don't know what the shade is."

 

[Rocketman]

anyone feel the need to tint the glass roof? I am from Texas and wondering if that is something I'd need during our hot summers when the car is park outside (work doesn't have covered parking!)

 

[GW Shark]

anyone feel the need to tint the glass roof? I am from Texas and wondering if that is something I'd need during our hot summers when the car is park outside (work doesn't have covered parking!)

I live in similarly hot South Carolina and was pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of the factory roof tint. There are multiple interior shades available but I never felt the need for one (I too park outside 24/7). I did tint the side windows (35%). The thing that made a BIG difference, to me, was tinting the windshield with 20% IR rejecting ceramic tint (Llumar). It's a big windshield!!

 

[techwonder21]

Hey everyone I recently picked up my GT (non PE) a few weeks ago and is looking get my windows tinted. I called two local shops and they mentioned using the following ceramic films: Solar FX and Global respectively. Has anyone heard of these two? Is one better than the other?

 

[Davedough]

Hey everyone I recently picked up my GT (non PE) a few weeks ago and is looking get my windows tinted. I called two local shops and they mentioned using the following ceramic films: Solar FX and Global respectively. Has anyone heard of these two? Is one better than the other?

Solar FX is ok. It has a "problem" where it shrinks very slowly, so the installer has to be extra careful with the fitment and placement of heat if they're trying to do the job quickly. I've never heard of Global, personally. I have always used 3M ceramic and have had great results. I % matched my rears on my front sides and like the way it came out. (note in the image below, they appear lighter because the sun is coming in through the front windshield and glass top)

 

[emersonsdad]

I live in Cali and went with 50% ceramic on the fronts and 75%(basically clear) ceramic in the back. Bakersfield will hit 110° in the summer so I mainly wanted to keep the heat out as much as possible. Obvi the fronts are a little darker now but you can still see in to try and keep the tickets at bay. So far so good. I’ve had cops pull up next to me with no problems.

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