Installing tint film for your car windows is a great way to improve the quality and comfort of your car ride. You can find window tint San Diego to suit every car and budget. But apart from choosing the right tint, you also need to select the correct tint percentages for the film before installing it. The correct percentage is critical so that your car is dark enough to be comfortable but light enough not to change the visibility.
How Do Tint Percentages Work?
The primary goal of tinting your window is to dim the surface area of the glass. You can dim your car windows to add visual attraction and minimize direct exposure to UV light.
Many stores use movie covering to dim car and truck windows. Window tinting is determined in portions of Visible Light Transmission (VLT). The tint percentage will tell you how much visible light is enabled through the color. The lesser the portion, the more tint darkness.
What Does Tint Percentage Represent?
The tint percentage in any vehicle indicates the amount of visible light passing through the tinted window. If your car window tint is 5% and only allows 5% of light to come through, it will be considered a very dark tint. If the tint percentage is 80% and allows for 80% of visible light to pass through, it will be significantly lighter.
How Can I Calculate the Tint Percentage?
To calculate your car window’s tint percentage, you will first have to check what the tint percentage of your actual windows is. This is the factory tint that your car came with and is the VLT percentage of your original windows. Once you know this, you must multiply the VLT of the film you are planning to apply to the window with the current VLT. For instance, if your factory VLT is 60% and the film VLT is 7%, the equation to calculate the overall tint percentage would be:
7×60/100 = 4.2%.
Window tinting services like San Diego Auto Glass & Tint will help you determine your cars’ correct window tint percentage. They understand that window tinting will enhance your driving experience, reduce heat build-up and upholstery fading in your car, and over-exposure to harmful UV rays. Their special films can also increase safety by reducing glare and keeping the glass from shattering in case of an accident.
Darkest Window Tint Allowed Legally
The darkest legal tint for a car window is the maximum amount of tint permitted. Given below is the darkest legal tint for vehicles:
- The 4 inches at the top of the windshield can have a non-reflective tint.
- Aftermarket film should let over 88% of the light in, or a minimum of 70% VLT combined with factory tinted windows.
- Any level of darkness is permitted for back side windows and rear windows.
How to Remove Tint If It Is Too Dark?
There are many ways to reduce your window tint if it gets too dark.
Soap Method
To remove the tint using the soap method, you will require dish soap and water, a knife or blade, a glass cleaner, and paper towels.
You must ensure that your windows are clean and have no stickers. Begin by slowly peeling away the tint by lifting it with the blade, starting at the corners till the entire tint is removed.
Hairdryer Method
You will need a hairdryer, glass cleaner, a blade or knife, paper towels, and a cloth for this method. Blast the corner of your windows with the hairdryer at the highest setting. Continue doing this till the heat causes the tint to curl in the corner. The heat generated by the dryer will allow you to peel away the tint carefully.
Cleaning Your Windows After Tint Removal
Whatever method you choose for tint removal, some adhesive residue will be left on the windows. You can use the spray bottle to spray the soap and water mixture onto the windows and scrape the residue with the blade. You can even use the hair dryer to heat the residue and scrape it off. Once you scrape the residue, you can spray a large amount of glass cleaner on the windows and clean them with paper towels.
Choosing the right tint percentage is critical for a delightful driving experience. You can speak to professional window tinting technicians and get more information on car window tinting.
