How to Determine the Best Window Tint for Your Vehicle

Tinting your vehicle’s windows is a worthwhile investment for several practical reasons. A quality tint limits the amount of sun that makes it into your car, blocking glare, reducing interior temperatures, and protecting your passengers and seats from damaging UV rays.

Your first step is finding the right fit for your vehicle. Not all tints are created equal: beyond price, one must consider the type of material that’s going to be glued to your car, and balance cost with quality and reliability.

This week, we take a brief look at some of the options available. All have their pros and cons, so it will ultimately be up to you to decide what’s worth dipping into your wallet for.

Make Sure Your Vehicle’s Window Tint is Legal

First, a note on law. Every state has its own set of rules for tinting a vehicle: considerations to keep in mind include the percentage of light that can pass through your windows or be reflected by them, tint color, and whether side mirrors can be tinted. Check the specifics of your area at your local DMV, or look here for a nationwide summary.

Your Choice of Window Tints

With that out of the way, it’s time to consider your possibilities:

• Dyed Film
  • As your cheapest option, this form of laminate utilizes a layer of dye to reflect light. It gives your windows the darkest possible look and is non-reflective, reduces heat and fading from sunlight, and blocks glare and UV rays.
  • The lower cost does affect the quality. The film can peel apart or change color (from black to a dark purple) over time, and loses effectiveness over time. Its protective abilities are among the weakest of your choices.
• Metalized Film
  • This type of laminate uses invisible metallic particles rather than dye to reflect sun. This makes it more resistant to scratches and wear (and will not fade), protects your windows from shattering, and is more effective at blocking heat, UV, and glare.
  • Costs will be higher with metalized film, and the shiny look it creates may not be the look you want. Perhaps most important is the fact that the metal can interfere with radio signals, making it more difficult to use your phone, GPS, and radio.
• Hybrid Film
  • This option combines the advantages of the first two tints. It is excellent at blocking heat and glare, preventing fading, and increasing the durability of your windows. It will not wear, and though it has metal, should not interfere with radio signals. Is also less costly than metalized film.
  • There are few drawbacks to hybrid aside from its higher pricing and the fact that it is not the absolute best at blocking heat and UV rays.
• Carbon Film
  • This option gives windows a dark and matte-finished look that many find attractive, and blocks a large amount of light, heat, and glare. It is highly durable and will not fade.
  • Carbon film’s downsides are few. The cost, of course, will be higher, and it will not be the most effective at keeping out heat and UV as other types of tint.
• Crystalline Film
  • This option is one of the best, providing almost total protection (97%) from infrared light and a majority (up to 60%) of solar heat. It also has almost no impact on visibility.
  • The cost makes it a spendy option, and the lack of visible tinting may not be worthwhile if you’re hoping to cut down on glare or brightness.
• Ceramic Film
  • Perhaps the best form of tint that money can currently buy, this option is the most expensive, but comes with the highest quality in return. It uses neither dye nor metals and provides the best protection from glare, UV rays, heat, fading, and shattering. It also maintains ideal visibility and no radio interference.
  • The cost, unsurprisingly, is it’s one notable drawback. It’s up to you whether the price tag is worth it.

Consider Your Options

And there you have it. There are a lot of choices to consider, so do your research beforehand! If you aren’t sure where to start, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Sun Control Inc. can help you make an informed and cost-effective decision, no matter the particulars.

Categorised in: Window Tinting Service

This post was written by Writer