[Shadow5501]

When my 03 Ody was totaled, the privacy glass shattered into thousands of tiny brown pieces. Not much safety to it imo.

Actually, that’s what (tempered) safety glass does. As opposed to breaking into jagged shards that would effectively be flying daggers in an accident.

 

[riverman]

Wind Deflectors?

Never tinted my windshield, but have always done the other windows. Huge difference in temperature and eye comfort while driving. Pick your favorite light transmission level that you think you’ll like. I personally prefer 30% light transfer on all windows. FL legal limit for the rear is 20% and I personally find it cavelike for the rear passengers. 20 vs 30 vs 50, etc, doesn’t actually have much difference how much heat is blocked, only a few percent difference respectively. That’s why I say pick your favorite light transfer level, they all block heat well.

I park in a garage at home and at work now, so I don’t really get to do the practice of using a sunshade anymore. In high school though I did a little experiment. We were testing some battery powered light and temperature sensors. I left them in my 05 Focus sedan all day, windows not tinted. Windshield facing sun. With a sunshade on the windshield, temps peaked at 140 degrees in the car. Without the sunshade the next day, temps peaked at about 165 degrees. Both days were full sun with highs in the upper 90s.

Florida has transmissivity requirements for window tints that apply to all of your vehicle's windows. The percentage of light reduction is different for the windshield, the front side windows, the rear side windows, and the liftgate window. I haven't seen much enforcement effort, but it could cost you if your windows are too dark. If I were to tint my windows, I'd use a metallized (silver reflective) window film. Most vehicles now use heat reflective glass, so the benefit could be minimal.

I have been using wind deflectors on my vehicles for years, which allow me to crack the windows an inch or two while keeping out rain. It works - the internal temperature is reduced by maybe 10-15 degrees. I wouldn't call that huge - just significant. I bought the Weathertech wind deflectors. It is a quality product with a lifetime guarantee, albeit somewhat expensive. Weathertech has twice replaced my broken deflectors under warranty, hassle free, at no cost to me. They did not ask me to return the broken deflectors either time. I think they are worth the cost.

 

[sidneyj]

Didn't see any mention about tinting the sunroof glass. Any need to do that? Guessing the slide shade probably keeps most of the heat out?

 

[Stan-qaz]

The sunroof shade is a thin piece of plastic that is almost worthless for keeping out heat.

While a good tint may help we (in Phoenix) finally surrendered and cut a piece of Reflectix (foil and bubble insulation) to fit in the sunroof cavity above the sliding cover. That makes a huge difference.

We also pulled the sunroof fuse, under the dash, to avoid an accidental opening of the sunroof that we never use anyway.

 

[Beaverlake]

I see on the specs. of the EX-l 2019 I want to buy that it has privacy glass in the middle and back,

Do the front side windows and the windshield have any tint at all?

Thanks!

 

[bonline]

I see on the specs. of the EX-l 2019 I want to buy that it has privacy glass in the middle and back,

Do the front side windows and the windshield have any tint at all?

Thanks!

Privacy glass is just that provides some level of privacy. Privacy glass has no heat mitigation properties. You will need to apply window tint to these privacy glass to attain heat mitigation. The front and windshield does not have any tint.

 

[sidneyj]

Privacy glass is just that provides some level of privacy. Privacy glass has no heat mitigation properties. You will need to apply window tint to these privacy glass to attain heat mitigation. The front and windshield does not have any tint.

I disagree. I had a tint guy use some tool to measure UV levels getting through privacy glass. He did the front windows to show me the level of UV blockage then did untinted rear privacy glass and it was a much higher protection. Then he did the 35% tint and that number was a bit higher then the privacy glass. This was a number of years ago and I don't remember details. I decided not to do the rear privacy glass because it wasn't all that much more protection. My 2 cents.

 

[BillyBicycle]

Anyone know what tint level the existing elite comes with on the sides and rear? I'm guessing it's the lightest possible, #50. I want to match the driver/passenger door with a 3m equiv.

 

[riverman]

Lightest tint will be in the windshield, and it will be barely noticeable if it's tinted at all. Side windows can be slightly darker, but not much. Rear side windows can be pretty dark and still be legal. The back window can have some tint but nowhere near as dark as the rear side windows. The State of Florida has specific transmissivity numbers, as do most window tint products, in their specs. Other states will probably have similar numbers. Hope this helps. The reason front side window and rear window tint is restricted is so law enforcement can see inside your vehicle, for their safety, for good reason. Where I live, one way to spot an unmarked police car is that their front side windows are so heavily tinted you cannot see the driver.

 

[Stan-qaz]

Anyone know what tint level the existing elite comes with on the sides and rear? I'm guessing it's the lightest possible, #50. I want to match the driver/passenger door with a 3m equiv.

A good tint shop (in states with tint laws) should have a device to check your existing window tint so they can pick an aftermarket tint that won't be darker than allowed when added to the existing tinted glass.

 

[BillyBicycle]

ood tint shop (in states with tint laws) should have a device to check your existing window tint so they can pick an aftermarket tint that won't be darker than allowed when added to the existing tinted glass.

going to DIY on this project. I'll err on the light side ceramic 50%, possibly even 75%. Don't want to attract too much attention by tinting the front windows.

Will go uber dark for the sunroof and the top 4" on the windshield though. Thinking 30%.

 

[faxthat]

Hi folks,

I've never tinted car windows because of living in the northern climate. But now we are in the south so I think window tint will help. Curious what folks opinions are on the brands: SunTek, LLumar - does it matter? Also, anyone put on a clear tint on the windshield to reduce the heat inside the car?

Thanks,

We live in Dallas and get along fine with standard tinted windows as delivered. The AC is powerful and needs no help. Less tint helps me see out.

 

[Stan-qaz]

Will go uber dark for the sunroof and the top 4" on the windshield though. Thinking 30%.

If you don't use the sunroof a sheet of Reflectrix (foil-bubble-foil) insulation makes a big difference here in Phoenix.