ISO Window Tint Advice/Experiences

[JV23]

Hi, All!
I am scheduled to get my two front door windows ceramic tinted next Wednesday, and I am struggling between going 20% and 35%. I know that the back and rear windows are around 20% and I really like the idea of them matching, however, my hang up is kind of two fold. One, here in Illinois, the legal percentage is 35 on the front door windows. Two, my aging eyes aren't great for night driving as it is. Now, I know MANY people tint below legal levels and usually as long as they behave themselves, they don't attract much legal attention. So, my concern is more about nighttime driving visibility. I do drive a fair amount at night. I have watched umpteen videos and the percentages seem to look differently on every video, not to mention all the different advice given.

My reasoning for wanting to get some tint is for heat and UV reduction as well as a little privacy. And, let's face it, a bit of a sleeker look on my exterior. I love the look of 20% from the exterior and I got to see an example of 20% at the tint shop from the interior. It looked great, but the shop was well lit with lots of natural light beaming in, so it really doesn't give me any indication of how it would be at night. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with window tint, specifically at 20% and/or 35% and at night. Any pics would be welcomed too! I'd really like to see some 35% on the front door windows with the factory "20%" on the rear door windows as that is what I am leaning slightly toward currently. Thanks for any input guys!

 

[TBCooper]

Hi, All!
I am scheduled to get my two front door windows ceramic tinted next Wednesday, and I am struggling between going 20% and 35%. I know that the back and rear windows are around 20% and I really like the idea of them matching, however, my hang up is kind of two fold. One, here in Illinois, the legal percentage is 35 on the front door windows. Two, my aging eyes aren't great for night driving as it is. Now, I know MANY people tint below legal levels and usually as long as they behave themselves, they don't attract much legal attention. So, my concern is more about nighttime driving visibility. I do drive a fair amount at night. I have watched umpteen videos and the percentages seem to look differently on every video, not to mention all the different advice given.

My reasoning for wanting to get some tint is for heat and UV reduction as well as a little privacy. And, let's face it, a bit of a sleeker look on my exterior. I love the look of 20% from the exterior and I got to see an example of 20% at the tint shop from the interior. It looked great, but the shop was well lit with lots of natural light beaming in, so it really doesn't give me any indication of how it would be at night. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with window tint, specifically at 20% and/or 35% and at night. Any pics would be welcomed too! I'd really like to see some 35% on the front door windows with the factory "20%" on the rear door windows as that is what I am leaning slightly toward currently. Thanks for any input guys!

My last truck i got 5% back doors and rear window , 20% front doors , and 35% windshield. Looked amazing but completely illegal here in Missouri, and fughet about nightime.. I'm with you on the aging eyes and also i do lots of night driving. This truck is 20% rear and rear , 35% front doors, and 50% windshield.

 

[GETGONE]

Actually factory tint is 35%, not 20.

 

[Keller]

I had 20% tint all around on my last car. It was a nightmare at night, had to roll windows down to see in poorly lit areas. And that was in my 40's with decent eyesight.

 

[JV23]

My last truck i got 5% back doors and rear window , 20% front doors , and 35% windshield. Looked amazing but completely illegal here in Missouri, and fughet about nightime.. I'm with you on the aging eyes and also i do lots of night driving. This truck is 20% rear and rear , 35% front doors, and 50% windshield.

Thanks for the insight and pics! Definitely helpful to see that window percentage combo. It really feels like I'm going to go 35% at this point. I'd much rather regret feeling it's too light than dinging my truck (or worse) because I can't see out the sides at night.
Quick follow up on the 35% on the front door windows...do you feel it provides any measure of privacy?

 

[JV23]

I had 20% tint all around on my last car. It was a nightmare at night, had to roll windows down to see in poorly lit areas. And that was in my 40's with decent eyesight.

I appreciate that insight. My fear exactly! What % do you have on your front door windows currently?

 

[JV23]

Actually factory tint is 35%, not 20.

Ah, well maybe I got some bum info. All the more reason to stick with my thoughts of going 35% over 20. I appreciate the info!

 

[Keller]

I appreciate that insight. My fear exactly! What % do you have on your front door windows currently?

The dealer did the tinting and I'm thinking it's 35%. I don't actually know for sure. I don't find myself driving much at night now, but still roll the windows down sometimes out of habit.

 

[jjpark]

I won't go below 35%. It's too dark at night, especially if it's raining or foggy. I have a 21 Charger (retired police car) that came with 18% and it's wayyyyy to dark at night

 

[PMW_fab]

I went with full ceramic on all windows, the reason for that was to keep the heat out of it. Factory colored glass doesn't keep the heat out like ceramic tint does. I'm in IL too and have had absolutely zero issues with getting pulled over for tint. I am super pleased with how it works when it's 90+ degrees outside and it's not blazing hot in the cab. Here is what I did:

70% on rear doors and rear windshield
20% on front doors
50% full front windshield with a 20% eyebrow

Front and rear doors match almost perfect.

 

[BlackTrailBoss]

My 21 has 20% factory rear tint. It has an etching on the rear windows saying so. The fronts are 70% from the factory. I had the fronts tinted to match the rear. I wanted them to match so it had an evened out look between front and rear windows. Only once in a while I’ll have to roll down the front windows to get a clearer look out of my side mirrors when backing in darkness. Definitely helps keep the interior a little cooler on hot summer days too.

 

[steppinrazer]

Actually factory tint is 35%, not 20.

I'm game, show me a GM vehicle with factory 35% tint in the rear in the last 30 years?

 

[GETGONE]

From another forum a tech that works at GM dealer:

#21-NA-152: Information on Glass Ultraviolet (UV) Ray Protection and Tint Percentage - (Jun 28, 2021)
Ultraviolet Ray Protection:
Windshield reduces UV rays down to 4% or less.
Front side door glass reduces UV rays down to 35% or less.
Rear window, doors, or 1/4 glass reduces UV rays down to 35% or less (Without RPO AJ1 or AKO).
Rear window, doors, or 1/4 glass reduces UV rays down to 10% or less if equipped with Privacy Glass (With RPO AJ1 or AKO).
Sunroof reduce to 10% or less.
Tint Percentage:
Windshields are SOLAR glass with a light transmittance of >/=70%.
Front door glass are Solar glass with a light transmission of >/=70%.
Rear door glass, quarter windows and back windows can use either Solar glass (>/=70%) or Privacy glass, which has a light transmittance of (nominally) 20%.
*Basically, if the glass is 'light green' in color, it is solar glass. If it is the dark gray/black glass, it is Privacy glass.

 

[JV23]

Well, I ended up going with 30% ceramic on the front door windows. Aesthetically, from the exterior, I feel it matches pretty well and pops nicely with the black accents. From the inside, the fronts have a bit of a different hue than the rears (more of a charcoal up front vs more of an amber in the rear). Could definitely feel a reduction of heat on my arm as the sun beamed through my drivers window on this lovely 97 degree day. But, obviously, I haven't driven at night yet . I'm hoping regret doesn't creep in once I do. Sorry the before/after pics aren't perfect with sun, glare, and angle, but hopefully they give an idea of the change. I appreciate those who chimed in with their experiences and pics!

 

[Keller]

Looks awesome, a great match! If it's too dark at night just roll the window down. If it's pouring rain at night just hold your breath and hope for the best.