jungy4

I have been shopping around for tint and found the best place. Apprently this guy uses computer technology to cut the film and a lot of people recommend it. But he only offers 5% and 20% and nothing in between. I used to have 15% and I thought it was perfect. He said there is no visual difference between 15 and 20. Is it true? If I can get some comparison pics, it would be great.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

most, if not ALL tinters use a computer to cut the film.

BigPZ

No it is not true....15 is darker than 20. If there was no visual difference, 15 AND 20 wouldn't be manufactured - just one or the other. He just doesn't want you to go somewhere else. Like Justin said, most tinters use computers now...shop around...

jungy4

Hmm, I called 2 more places and they only have 5 and 20%. One had 18%. Must be an Iowa thing.

dannyboy10

15% and 20% are very close in darkness. Your 15% tint is probably from a different company.

"Common" specs are 5%,20%,35%,50%....but every tint mfr. is different.

jspagna1

Very close imo. 15% will definitley get you into trouble!!

ez12a

huh i did not know that. My guy had a sheet that he cut to size. Did a very good job imo.

jungy4

I am only getting the rear done for now so I can go as dark as I want.

On my last car, I could tell the guy used a knife to cut the film because he ended up cutting some of the weather strip around the window.

I expanded my search and finally found one with 15%. $135 for rear windows and back glass.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^yikes!

nothing can be as precise as a computer.
ROLLS of film attached to like a plotter machine.
enter dimensions into computer and the plotter type machine cuts the film.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

my tint guy hand cuts the tint to perfection.

GeaugaDog

Go with 20% over 15% IMO. My tint was hand cut and I feel like a better job can be done doing it that way than by computer (of course the guy has to know what he's doing)

SpiderX1016

I got my tint hand cut with a razor. Looks fine to me.

subbuzz

I got 18% titanium on my TL, had 5% on my last CL....5% is DARK and I loved the look, at first didn't like the lighter tints but now I appreciate the extra 13% visibility. Also doesn't look bad at all!

tones160

go for 20% dude lol, i regret getting my tints at 35% but it was hand cut to perfection as well.

Mug

I've had both but not on the TL. I have 20% on my TL and I wish they had 15% like my previous car. I think if I could pick, I'd go darker. I love 15% but I don't like 5%. During the day, you can see right into my black interior with 20%.

Acura_Dude

^^^ I...love...your car!

ohsixMTee

iTrader: (2)

The place I had take care of 9 cars so far including the TL does it old school by hand as well. That's a skillful tinter IMO.

Computers are only as smart as humans are, and humans are far from perfect. lol

UA6

jonboy10

I got 20% on mine and the tinter recommended it because it is the cleanest overall look. I like it too. I had 15% before on a previous car. There isnt a whole lot of difference but you will like having 20% at night when youre reversing if you dont have reverse HID's...

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

since when?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

since.... computers were invented.
since....tinters got lazy
since....the beginning of time.
since....dinosaurs ruled the earth.

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

this is the way to do it. i worked in an interior shop with a great reputation and our tint guy just used paper towels and razor blades and that's about it....his came out perfect every single time

sockr1

iTrader: (5)

this depends a lot on your interior color also....i got 20% on all rear windows and with a black interior it makes it seem a lot darker than 20%.

however if you have the light interior, you have a little more leeway to go darker than 20%. i put my front row windows at 35% to make sure it wasn't too dark when i go by the cops (illegal in cali)

oh and make sure you ask for moleskin lining on the windows...this way you minimize the scrathes that the window/door design create on tints

jungy4

Got it done. 15% rear. I don't need Moleskin because rear windows are never rolled down on my car. I read posts about the third brake light and I forgot to mention it to the tinter. He ended up cutting it around, which was kinda what I wanted. Right after I picked up my car, I was driving behind this newer VW Passat who had his third brake light covered with similar % tint and it was a little harder to see.
I ended up taking it back the next day because the driver side rear had big bubbles but he redid it no problem. This is my first dark car with tint and I love it.

tones160

lol just tints in the back?! Dude go all around and trust me it will feel like if you're riding more comfy. I'm sorry but if if you get tints you need to go all around.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

yes, it does look odd.

mismatched.




not uniform.


etc.

Mug

Yeah, but Jungy isn't going to be pulled over!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

tru dat!

tones160

If the cop wants to be an asshole he will get pulled over anyways lol.

tinteduptls

At the shop I work for we use the computer cut film and for my own jobs I hand cut it. I personally trust hand cuts over computer cuts because even with computer cuts you still end up trimming the pattern in order to match up. Another thing about computer cuts is that they dont always match up with after market glass. Its only ideal in order to save time and saves film when cutting it out the roll. But they are not always 100% even with factory glass.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^thanks for the insight

jungy4

Illinois has strict tint laws. Not worth paying $50 for front tint to get a ticket that's more than that.

Gonzilla

^^ true, I see it as if your gunna get pulled over ur gunna get pulled over no matter what......ive been runnin 5%(limo) on all my cars have yet to get a ticket(knock on wood) and i live in ny

GeaugaDog

I have 35% on my front windows which is techincally illegal in my state.... Have rolled by many cops and haven't been pulled over. Don't be a pansy tint your fronts at least 35%

jonboy10

Aight since the question is answered, im going to thread jack. sorry brahh

I did not have the moleskin put in when i had my 20 percent all around, and now the rears are very scratchy (vertical scratches) and the fronts have a couple scratches... I had the tint done in December of last year. My question being, should the tint guy fix this? Or give me a discount on moleskin? He did NOT even mention moleskin or anything when i had it done, and i wasnt really aware of it. I know it depends on the tint guy, but should it be warrientied in your opinion?

Thanks and sorry for stealing, thought it may be okay since you had your tint done and got the answer to all your questions, and we are already talking bout tint.

sockr1

iTrader: (5)

yea definitely ask your tint guy about the moleskin...he should have known to put that in the first place if he has done a lot of cars similar to ours, but i would just ask him. i went back to my tint guy and he did it twice more since i had issues with the moleskin glue smearing on the tint. i haven't had any problems since and it's been about 3 years

for jungy...i got pulled over by a cop 3 weeks ago in cali for no front license plate and he made me roll the windows up (i put them down when the cop pulled me over)...looked at the 35% tint in the front and said "eh not that dark" and didn't write me up for that. so it's up to you but 35% is not that dark

tones160

Lol at Jung. Dude if u gonna be afraid of tinting if car because of police then u might as well leave everything stock. I enjoy every single mod that I have on my car and will enjoy once I put more mods and u think I'm gonna worry Bout a pig or 2 stopping me? Eventually everyone gets pulled over for the littlest thing. Cops will even make up a story and give u a ticket for small bullshit.

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

must be a lazy texas thing

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

no we do not. you are a liar. we are allowed 50% in front and 35% other windows, with an 8" strip on the windshield. the only states with more lax laws are like NV, NM, etc.

that's what the book says. i've never even seen someone get a ticket for 35 in front and that's all you need.

ps, if you get pulled over roll all your windows down. cops only car about tints for THEIR safety. an IL cop isn't getting out of his car for a $50 fix it ticket bro. he pulled you over for another reason. accept that fact.

deantl

Do not go with 20% because when the sun is out, even is slight sun the windows will not seem tinted. Not dark at all.