kierankelly

Getting my 2011 GT's windows tinted today. Had a few questions.

1. What % should I go with? I was thinking 30% so it's not too dark, but not too light either. I don't want them black, but I want the tint to be noticeable as well.

2. I have the window louvers on the rear quarters. I was thinking of not even tinting them because they're covered, but should I do them anyways?

Thanks.

fritzOSU03

From what I've found online, PA only allows you to block 30% of the light. That's pretty strict/weak and almost unnoticeable but that's what I would go with and I'd do it on all windows (besides the front of course).

kierankelly

Yeah, that's what I've read as well, but it's not strictly enforced at all. I know many people with blackout windows that have never been bothered.

I really don't even want to bother with only blocking 30%. That's almost non-noticeable.

I may have mistyped what I was trying to say.

I went to this website: http://www.shadesofgraytint.com/selector.html

and chose the 30% option. That's what I want to do with my windows. I think that would be a nice "in the middle" shade.

fritzOSU03

I think that looks nice. It's what's on mine here in Texas (legal limit is 25%) and it's difficult to see into the car. One important factor has to do with interior color. If the exterior color of your car is white and the interior is charcoal, the tint is going to appear much more pronounced from the outside that a lighter interior would.

kierankelly

I've got the saddle interior, so it should stand out a bit.

I could probably even do 40% just to be a little safe, but on a white car, I think a nice dark tint would would look awesome.

fritzOSU03

Definitely, white is the perfect color for nice dark windows.

kierankelly

That's my thinking as well.

I'm just going to tell him to do 30% and take my chances. I'll do the quarters too if he can. I originally told the place I wasn't, but I might as well, just to keep things the same.

Bert

Here in Massachusetts, some Safety Inspection shops will give you a hard time about aftermarket window tint if it is too dark, and safety inspection is required every year . . . I don't know if you have that in PA also, but that's what I would check if I was going to tint my windows (or will check when that time comes)

kierankelly

In PA, we get our inspections done at regular service stations, and after working at one for 4 years during HS, I know that we didn't check tint, and most other places won't as well.

I just got off the phone with the tint place and he said he'll do his best to make it dark and stay legal. He'll do a little lighter on the driver and passenger windows and dark on the rears. I'll take his word for it.

I'll update the thread with pictures when I get the car later tonight.

Thanks for the help guys.

fritzOSU03

Might as well go for it if local authorities are lenient. Definitely do sides, quarters, and rear all at the same time; you never know when something might happen to those covers. Also, if you need to tint the quarters later, the color of the new tint versus the old tint will most likely not match up correctly.

kierankelly

I did tell them to do the quarters as well, after thinking about it, if the covers fall off or I don't like them anymore, the windows would look terrible without the tint.

I'm hoping it turns out ok. I'm nervous. First "mod" done to my new car, even if it is a minor one.

fritzOSU03

IMO, if there's only one mod you do to a car it's tint. Maybe I've been biased by the Texas sun but a car without tint is much more unpleasant here during the summer.

kierankelly

Driving around for the past week without the windows tinted just felt weird.

I'll be glad to get it back tonight with the windows nice and dark.

laserred38

Do the windshield too! 50%...

Overboost

I like 20% all around. Easy to see out of at night, but tough enough to keep most prying eyes away. Plus, you can do the whole car with that and have no color variations between front and rear.

2010MustangGT

I have 30% all around, minus the windsheild. Very happy with it.

fritzOSU03

Perfect, IMO.

Stinger1982

I agree as well 30% is "just right"

kierankelly

The guy at the tint place said he'll work his magic. He's been doing tint for a while and I've seen plenty of pics of his other work.

Said it'll be plenty dark and he's even going to do the quarter windows as well.

Supposed to be done by tonight, so I'll put up some pics when I pick it up.

kierankelly

Just got some pics sent from the shop.







Of course, now it's going to be a long *** afternoon until I can get home and pick it up.