Impact of Window Tinting

[Tom Rozylowicz]

Looking at window tinting to reduce the need for summer a/c. My state allows 35% reflective ratio. Is this worthwhile and do you have any sense of the extent to which summer a/c is reduced? A relative swears by this on a Prius, but I remain skeptical.

Any tasteful ways to get this done? I love the look of my Fusion Hybrid and wouldn't want to do anything that would cheapen the value.

[inco]

The looks of the car after having it done make it very appealing. Does it work and by how much - well the smallest windows (the sides) get tinted and the rear but that big puppy out front cannot be done.

 

Every car up until now I have had tinted. The last one I did 45% on the front sides and 35% on the rear and I believe it did help reduce the heat inside. By how much - not sure. With my current car I'm not doing it at all. My vision is less than stellar now and may stay that way after recent surgery on the one eye so I'm going to pass.

 

However you can't beat the sinister curb appeal once done and a black car done right - Yowsa. Yes I have a black car and it hurts not doing it, but.... ;(

[hybridbear]

Looking at window tinting to reduce the need for summer a/c. My state allows 35% reflective ratio. Is this worthwhile and do you have any sense of the extent to which summer a/c is reduced? A relative swears by this on a Prius, but I remain skeptical.

 

Any tasteful ways to get this done? I love the look of my Fusion Hybrid and wouldn't want to do anything that would cheapen the value.

First of all, welcome!

 

There are a number of threads in this section of the Forum (please note that I moved this topic to the section that deals with window tinting). The common theme seems to be that window tinting makes the Fusion look better, not worse. You can also check out the comments that others have made regarding the temperature effect of tinting.

[acdii]

It helps keep it cooler. Mine is black and had it tinted last year, well worth the cost, and it looks great without affecting vision too bad at night.

[corncobs]

For me it was more privacy and looks issue than a heat issue. I believe it does help not getting as warm but walking out to my car and pressing the open key to get all windows down has a bigger effect in order to cool it down IMHO.

[acdii]

For me it was more privacy and looks issue than a heat issue. I believe it does help not getting as warm but walking out to my car and pressing the open key to get all windows down has a bigger effect in order to cool it down IMHO.

As long as it isn't raining! LOL I use that feature myself.

[Ram]

I've been pricing out 3M Crystal (what I'm being told is top of the line 3M tint) and its not cheap to do a '14 FFH SE.

[Joe Sofia Sr.]

I've been pricing out 3M Crystal (what I'm being told is top of the line 3M tint) and its not cheap to do a '14 FFH SE.

 

Worth every penny! I did the CR 40 on every window but the windshield. Looks very classy and significantly reduces the inside temps on my charcoal grey interior (and thus having your AC work harder).

Despite the 40 not being in compliance with CA law, it is light enough that I have no concerns about being stopped. (I am not a big fan of having two shades of tint on a car despite the degree of tinting being close).

My main consideration was visability at night and again, the 3M product at this level of tint is just right.

 

Just be sure to have a qualified 3M installer do the work. The dot matrix and slope of the rear window makes it more difficult to install than it would appear. Most good tint shops have OEM software programs to cut the tint to size.

Also a reputable installer will keep the 3M watermark on the tint for you to inspect prior to the final cleaning of the windows. That way, you can be sure that the installed tint is in fact the 3M product that you purchased (stranger things have happened ;)!

 

Good luck!

 

JS

Edited June 10, 2014 by Joe Sofia Sr.

[Ram]

 

Worth every penny! I did the CR 40 on every window but the windshield. Looks very classy and significantly reduces the inside temps on my charcoal grey interior (and thus having your AC work harder).

Despite the 40 not being in compliance with CA law, it is light enough that I have no concerns about being stopped. (I am not a big fan of having two shades of tint on a car despite the degree of tinting being close).

My main consideration was visability at night and again, the 3M product at this level of tint is just right.

 

Just be sure to have a qualified 3M installer do the work. The dot matrix and slope of the rear window makes it more difficult to install than it would appear. Most good tint shops have OEM software programs to cut the tint to size.

Also a reputable installer will keep the 3M watermark on the tint for you to inspect prior to the final cleaning of the windows. That way, you can be sure that the installed tint is in fact the 3M product that you purchased (stranger things have happened ;)!

 

Good luck!

 

JS

 

Had the 3m crystalline tint installed last Monday 9th Jun 2014. I love this stuff. Its state legal 40/50 don't ask me which is up front or in back, its just a slight lighter in the front. Have a heat wave the rest of this week now that I can roll down the windows I won't be, the A/C will be on and I'm hoping that this tint will help the car be more efficient in the long run.

It was by a qualified 3M installer and I've got all the paper work stating so with the batch numbers their numbers etc... Would have never thought about the water mark, however I'm sure this is the real McCoy.

Thanks

Gary

[KLH]

My FFH is tinted and - for short periods of time - tinting makes a difference. Still, give it enough time and the heat will build up. I say that tinting is about 80% cosmetics and maybe 20% heat reduction. Would I do it again? Hell yeah, darker windows are sweet looking. Would I tint for heat reduction? No... carry a windshield blocker.

[Larry Riley Jr]

Totally agree with KLH. I did 32% ceramic all the way around, as well as a clear ceramic on the windshield. I think it makes a difference for heat, but I still use a sunshade, and the additional privacy when stuck in the insane traffic here in Atlanta is nice too. But my main reason for tint isn't temp reduction or privacy, but enhanced UV protection. UV is always coming in, even on cloudy days, so I consider it an one-time investment in protecting my interior (plus my own skin LOL) from much of the effect of UV.