You may just recently have bought a car and now deciding what tint the dealer should use. Or, you may already have one with a worn out or simply considering tint replacement for. Either way, this windshield tint guide would be a good read for you.
Windshield tint is important to your car. Not just for the aesthetics, but for safety reasons. Why? Because your car’s tint protects the glass from scratches and easily breaking. Because it protects you from sunlight when you’re driving down the highway. It protects you and your family’s privacy while inside your vehicle. A lot of people mistake having a windshield and overall car tint for having to hide something inside the car. Well that would be somehow true, but it’s more of protecting yourself and every passenger inside from what bad eyes could be out there.
So what kind of windshield tint should you get for your car?
Dyed Window Tint
Rather the most common but most inexpensive tint there is. You could say this is the standard for regular cars to have. It can block out heat and sunlight from entering your car but not on a very efficient scale. It is non-reflective and could also delaminate eventually due to heat. Although there is no denying, that unless you live in the sunny part of the country or the desert for that matter, this ought to do the job for a normal everyday drive.
Metallic Tint
A metallic tint consists of several layers. A base layer of adhesive, a film that blocks ultraviolet radiation, then a metalized layer that reflects heat and darkens the windshield. That being the case, it is very effective in blocking out heat. Also very efficient in blocking out glare from light. The best part is, the tint does not fade over time. The downside is that; metallic tints could interfere with radio technology. It is also a bit more expensive than the dyed tint and has a shiny appearance to it due to its metallic component.
Hybrid Tint
This is the cross between dyed and metallic tints. A better and well improved of the two is an understatement. The hybrid tint provides all the separate advantages of dyed and metallic tints without the disadvantage each type possess. It blocks heat, glare and UV rays more efficiently. It has less metal content so it is less shiny but as durable as the metallic tint. In fact, hybrid tints are less costly than metallic tints. Isn’t that just a good surprise. There are few to no disadvantages to the hybrid tint, than probably the unsurprising fact that it costs more than the dyed tint.
Ceramic Tint
This is a recent option. And might probably be unheard of till now. The ceramic t
int is composed of an adhesive layer bonded with a ceramic layer and protected with a top coat. By the sound of ceramic, you may already perceive it to be a bit pricier. Well, that is true. However, the ceramic tint has a lot of advantages to it that may make you rethink this option. This type of tint is most efficient in blocking heat, glare and UV rays. It doesn’t fade over time. And the best part is, it allows radio signals to pass through making it good for an in-glass antenna. This probably is the best fit for your windshield if you could stand the price.
Whichever you decide to get, remember to always consider your comfortability in driving a tinted car. Try to weigh your options well and go for the less dark but more efficient one. Heavily tinted cars are not so good when driving at night. So unless that’s what you’re really comfortable with, try to go for the medium dark shade of tint. Lastly, if you are not getting your tint from a dealer, make sure you have it done by a trustworthy and reliable repair shop. You wouldn’t want your money to go to waste if your tint is installed incorrectly. Be wise and be well!
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