MValentine

My current tints are from the factory which include the front and rear driver and passenger windows, rear window, and sunroof. My tint on the front has cuts in the tint itself. So Ive been considering on getting them all redone especially for the summer heat. Im going to go with 5% on the rear window, rear driver and passenger windows, and a 4" stripe on the top of my windshield. I was wondering what is the percentage on the front driver and passenger windows, and sunroof? I want them to be pretty much to factory.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Seems really dark. 5% aka limo black makes seeing at night terrible.

I have 20% on all the windows and 30% on the windshield. Personally, I would not want any darker.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

With the reflective properties of film these days, you don't need to go that dark to get good shading/filtering. The tint band on the top windshield is 1990's IMO. Go with a full front tint like Air Blue.

5% is really dark. You'll want to put HID in the back-up lights or have a rear view camera for backing out at night.

MValentine

yeah i was thinking about that, and i remember having 5% on the rear window a silverado i used to drive. and it was totally ridiculous. do you think 15% on the rear windows would be good? then maybe go with 35% on the front windows.

oldskewel

iTrader: (1)

I've got 30% on both right windows, and that seems just right. Not too dark. 20% on the rears would be good. I've got 50% on the rear and both left windows (all of this from the PO, which includes a warranty re-do, leading to the mismatch).

So if I could choose, I'd go 30% on the fronts, and 20% on the rears and back. Not too dark to see. Not going to draw attention to yourself.

BTW, I think CA law is for 70% or higher on the front's, and anything you want on the rears and back.

GH5T

Does Cali have a tint limit. In Maryland the limit is 35% but the way the meters are calibrated car windows with no tint barely pass. It's not enough for the police to stop you but they will issue you a fix it ticket if they've stopped you for some other violation.

But IMO I'd go with 20-30% for all rear windows and 35% for the front.

MValentine

IIRC, I read a while back that these percentages block a percentage of visible light transmission.
10% tint blocks 90% VLT
20% tint blocks 80% VLT
30% tint blocks 70% VLT
40% tint blocks 60% VLT
50% tint blocks 50% VLT
60% tint blocks 40% VLT
70% tint blocks 30% VLT
80% tint blocks 20% VLT
90% tint blocks 10% VLT

So I guess I'll be considering 35% on the front sides, and then 20% on the back sides, rear, and top 4" of windshield.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Cali vehicle code is pretty specific. Simply, tint on the back of the car is not limited but the car has to have side mirrors. No tint is allowed on the passenger, driver and windshield except the windshield can be tinted if it is no lower than ~29" from the drivers seat. I forget the exact vehicle code specs.

I have 35% all around. Supposed to put Air Blue put on but I'm slow.

Hodson

FYI, 20% tint is the norm for manufacturer tint on new vehicles today. To give you a real-world comparison, I got 20% on all my rear windows, i think it is a perfect amount.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Don't recall the LS having "factory" tint.

the glass has a light color in it but other than that, nothing that significantly blocks light.

MValentine

Well maybe most won't consider it tinted. But its definitely not clear.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

the only piece of glass i know that is factory tinted, rather the glass is "dipped" (not film) to get a slight tint, is the sunroof. if the glass were ever tinted it would be very VERY slight at probably 75-80%.

check out the official so cal tint thread for more info. there are TONS of info in this thread.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-...thread-63.html

what i learned is that total solar energy rejection (TSER) is as important as the % shade itself.

Dranom

iTrader: (7)

I doubt the LS is tinted from factory. When i got my car it was hot as hell inside on sunny days
I got it tinted all around including the windshield with 3m crystaline. Helps alot to cool it down

kkm871

If the glass is not fully transparent it is tinted. All LS400 came with OEM tinted glass, the tint color depending on the interior color.

Whether or not a given tint will filter out UV effectively is another story.