Tint question

not really 3rd gen but that’s what I have so I’ll ask here! We want to have my wife’ Highlander tinted and can be fit in the schedule tomorrow howver we will be out of town for a week. I know most people like to leave the vehicle in the sun to help cure the film but it will be locked in our garage.

Does no sun hurt anything for the final product? Will it dry/cure without sun? Thanks!

 

I really have never heard of leaving it in the sun for it to cure. My last Lexus sat in a dark garage for 8 days after having the windows tinted and I never had any issues. Make sure the place that is tinting it for you offers a lifetime warranty, most do. If you ever have any issues with the film, they should take care of it no questions asked.

One more pro tip: Spend the extra bucks on ceramic tints, especially if you live in a place where it gets hot. It rejects heat much better than standard film.

 

Just don't roll the windows up and down for a few days.

 

Gotcha thanks!!!

 

Leaving it in the sun is just to get out any small water bubbles that may not have squeegeed out. Even if there is some they will evaporate and the film will shrink. It’s fine to leave it the garage just keep the windows up obviously

 

I tint windows for a living, and no, you do not have to leave it in the sun to cure. it will cure faster in the sun obviously but it is not necessary. if you are going to be out of town for a week, it will be fully cured by the time you get back no matter where you leave it. just do not roll the windows down for about 48 hours.

like others have said, if you can, choose a ceramic film. you will not regret it once it gets hot outside. the heat rejection of the ceramic film is pretty amazing actually. that is all I ever use on my own vehicles.

during the curing process you will see lil water bubbles form in the windows, that is perfectly normal and nothing to freak out about. the water is just drying itself out of in between the glass and the tint. just make sure you DO NOT try to squeegee them down yourself. you will push air into the bubbles and then you will have an ugly mess. no tinter in the world can squeegee every bit of water from the tint during the installation process, it is virtually impossible.

just out of curiosity, where are you located? I wonder if it is our shop? reason I say that is I spoke with someone on the phone today before I left about tinting a Highlander...

 

NC near charlotte. Ok I’m sure it will be good to go!

 

Nope it’ll dry either way, just takes longer with no sun. I’m currently at work.... tinting windows lol

 

haha, we are in Clemmons NC...what shop did you call? I have a buddy near Rock Hill that does tint.

 

Sunstoppers.

 

never heard of em.

 

It will be fine. Still might wanna wait a bit longer before using the windows though.

 

looks like they use SunTek films, which is what we use as well. Choose the CXP or CIR line. those are both of the ceramic and nano-ceramic films with excellent heat rejection. also looks like they are a "chain" shop. hope their pricing is fair for ya.

 

You done a model x windshield yet? Haha took us about 2 hours to heat shrink the fucker.

 

Nice! Where do you put the registration sticker at?

 

We don’t, MO doesn’t require a registration sticker. You’re “supposed” to have your inspection stickers on the windshield but I’ve never heard or personally had issues for not having them.

 

You won't have any issues. I did the same thing after I got mine done and it has been just fine and that was over a year ago.

 

damn! nope haven't done one of those yet. we have done a couple Model S' but not the full windshields. another tough one believe it or not is the 2012-2015 Dodge Ram windshield. the top corners are a biiiaaatttccchhh. we tint a lot of truck windshields though. probably the hardest windshield we ever tinted was a Mercedes Sprinter Van that was being used as a limo. had to do it in sections because the windshield was so big.

 

Yeah idk what’s up with those dodges binding at the corners, old saburban/silverados are the same way, always get some crispy edges. You guys don’t get 60” rolls for stuff like that?

 

nope, we never need anything larger than a 40" roll. so we didn't order a 1/4 roll of film just for one windshield. the customer was happy the way we did it. it didn't look too bad honestly. we have done several RV's the same way so it looks pretty good.

where's your shop at if you don't mind me asking? I like talking to fellow tinters from different areas. I have several friends who do tint all over and I like to send them work when I can.