Window tinting advice

I’m itching to get the front driver and passenger windows tinted on my black, 04 extra cab. I’m torn between matching the rear glass or trying to stay “legal” and do like a 35% or even a 40% shade.

So, I’m curious what have y’all done? Played it legal? (for your state) Matched the rear privacy glass? Also, does anyone have feedback, or recommendations for the brand of tint to seek out.

Pictures welcome

Thanks!

 

The only tint legal in Pa Is Glass.

If stopped you can be forced to remove it along side of the road .

Get Stupid the vehicle is impounded.

 

Washington. 20% all around. I'm new here, but everyone is saying the cops never write tickets for tint. Hope that's true.

 

I've been running 35% VLT tint on my vehicles for 20 years and I've lived in OH, WV, NC and PA. I've never had an issue - not once.
You will attract attention and get in trouble if you go darker than 35% VLT. Anything less than that (also referred to as "limo tint") and you're asking for trouble.

With that said, I bought pre-cut film in 35% charcoal for my '00 Taco and put it on myself. It perfectly matches the factory tint on the quarter and rear windows. I'm totally happy with it.

 

I have legal tint on my front windows and darker on back windows and rear glass on topper and limo'd blacked out on topper side windows.
I strongly recommend staying legal on the front windows. It is much safer for night driving. There are always those idiots that don't turn their headlights on in the fog, in the rain, at dawn and dusk among other reasons. NEVER tint below the AS1 line on the front windshield.---just my two cents worth---It is illegal for a reason.
Sun-Gard makes good film. Has a lifetime warranty. Film with ceramic coatings is more expensive but resists fading better and performs better.

 

All good advice. I do not want to compromise visibility. Just add some privacy and heat deflection.

Perhaps I’m using the percentages wrong? Not looking to do anything crazy dark or limo. I want to remain within somewhat legal limits.

 

Dammit man, I just love your truck!

 

Hey, thanks!

 

The VLT percentage number represents the amount of light that passes through the tint. So a VLT 35% would block 65 percent of the light and allow 35 percent to pass through. I like a 40-45% VLT on windows infront of b pillar. Behind that have at it.

 

Go 35% on the pass and driver windows and it will be a close match, however the front window will make them look a lot lighter. To solve that add 70 or 50% to the front and it will look excellent all around.

 

It will look good...until the airbags deploy

drive at night in a foggy rain with lightly tinted sunglasses on first to make sure you like it.

btw..36% is the darkest you can legally run on front windows and above AS1 line in Maryland, (apparently the OPs state of residence) and no tint below AS1 line on front windshield. So technically 35% is illegal on driver and passenger window. Anything below AS1 on windshield of a vehicle operated on public highways is absurd in my opinion anyway.

 

Appreciate the feedback guys. As J Gibson correctly pointed out, I am located in Maryland, which I believe has a legal limit of 35% on front driver and passenger windows. I don’t think any front windshield tinting is allowed without a medical exception.

I don’t plan on a front sun strip or anything on the front glass.

 

I used to live in Iowa The troopers love to write tint tickets. Nothing is allowed on the front w windows. I had tint tickets in every car I owned Hahaha

 

I've never been pulled over in my previous mercedes that had like a 15 or 20% tint. The only time I've seen a tint fix-it ticket was back in the late 90s, early 2000s when everyone had hondas with limo tint.

 

@Jasonstacoma
@rlx02
For me it is not about a ticket, it is about visibility and safety. However, from a LE perspective it does give “probable cause” for a traffic stop which can lead to other inconveniences.

 

@joe25rs sounds like you are on the right track imo

A sun strip would give your whole truck a little darker look. It would give the appearance that the front windows were tinted a little more, thus enhancing the “privacy” It would also provide a very tiny bit of heat deflection. The general appearance from the outside is totally a matter of opinion.
However, on higher quality windshields you will notice black or dark grey dots in the area above the AS1 where a sun strip would go. The dots have been specifically designed to reduce eye fatigue. I believe the gradient sun strip found on many tacomas accomplishes the same thing. Covering them with tint with a hard definitive line makes them ineffective. The dots and gradient tint work by giving a softer visual transition, the harsh line of a strip of tint closer to your line of sight defeats this feature. Not a huge deal, and not all windshields have it to start with, especially on lower trim option, cheaper vehicles, or some replacement windshields.
I agree with your decision not to have one. I don’t have one on my current truck. I have tried them in the past.

 

Good, i'm hoping you aren't in highschool anymore. And if you still are, thank you for being more grown up.

 

Tint is its own violation to be pulled over, atleast in iowa.

 

Privacy is precisely why the tint is typically illegal. If you are stopped, the officer can't see what you're doing in there. Understandably, that's a safety concern for them.

Best to either stay legal and not worry about it, or roll your windows down when you get lit up.

While not typically something people get pulled over for, it's definitely something they can site you for depending on their mood.

 

I agree with jbrandt that it is true officers prefer to see what they are walking into, and rolling your windows down for an officer is typically the right thing to do. The tint laws are however not written for that reason. In many, (if not all) states you could legally spray paint over every window except the windshield and two front windows. Officers would like to see in those as much as any to know what potential threats they are approaching.

Tint laws are written in an effort to reduce wrecks.