Window Tinting

ryandman89 · June 29, 2007

I was planning to tint my windows but I needed some advice seeing how I have never tinted my windows. As of right now I plan to only tint the front two side windows to match the two rear side windows on my NBA crew cab. I wanted to see if I should go darker on the rear windows as well and then match the front ones with them. I was also wondering if you can tint the rear and front windshields. I'm almost positive it is illegal in Texas to tint the front windshield, but can you tint the rear? Anybody that has any answers, info, tips, or advice please post. In your experiances, what looks the best?

Thanks for the help again!

grimmysnr · June 29, 2007

If your rear windows and back glass are already tinted from the factory then 15-20% on the front driver and passenger side windows should look good. You cannot tint your windshield except like the top portion of it. If you tint your windshield expect to be pulled over and given a fix it ticket in just about every state you go to.

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Thats one website that will explain the law for your state. Being Texas i would imagine 10% for the rears and 15% for the front is probably exceptable for how hot it is. But to be honest as long as you dont do stupid stuff and bring attention to yourself cops will leave you alone most of the time. Thats one of the benefits of driving a truck instead of a sports car.

As for looks i was gonna go 15% up front on mine with my factory privacy tint on the rears. That way it will kind of shade you but not be so dark that cops get pissy. 30% is what a lot of states consider illegal but thats really not worth putting on. If you do get pulled over just dont be a dick to the cop and he will most likely not look for other things such as your tint.

VMax2007 · June 29, 2007

If your rear windows and back glass are already tinted from the factory then 15-20% on the front driver and passenger side windows should look good. You cannot tint your windshield except like the top portion of it. If you tint your windshield expect to be pulled over and given a fix it ticket in just about every state you go to.

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Thats one website that will explain the law for your state. Being Texas i would imagine 10% for the rears and 15% for the front is probably exceptable for how hot it is. But to be honest as long as you dont do stupid stuff and bring attention to yourself cops will leave you alone most of the time. Thats one of the benefits of driving a truck instead of a sports car.

As for looks i was gonna go 15% up front on mine with my factory privacy tint on the rears. That way it will kind of shade you but not be so dark that cops get pissy. 30% is what a lot of states consider illegal but thats really not worth putting on. If you do get pulled over just dont be a dick to the cop and he will most likely not look for other things such as your tint.

I believe the factory deep tint on the rear window and rear doors is 20%. I went with Ziebart's 30% as I did with my 2000. In MN, anything darker than 50% on the front door windows is considered illegal, but if you go a shade lighter with the front door windows than the rear door windows, it shows you at least attempted to keep it legal and the cops will leave you alone. I had no problems with 30% in the 7 1/2 years with my 2000 and so far with my 07 NBS. The Ziebart told me I would be chancing it if I went with 20% and I didn't want to risk having to remove it. Ziebart did both front doors for about $100 with a lifetime warranty against peeling, wrinkles and fading.

omegafiler · June 30, 2007

I'd suggest going with what I've always gone with on my trucks. Equivalent of 35% on the front, and the equivalent of "limo" on the rear, which is typically about 5%. I can still see out just fine at night - and I frequently have to back up into rather dark spots.

Any respectable tint shop will be able to do this rather easily for ya. They should all be well aware of what is legal and what is not. In TX, ya can't go any darker than 35% on the front 2 windows. You can do whatever you want on the rear windows. And I'd suggest leaving the windshield alone.

lerbud · June 30, 2007

limo tint over the factory tint is usually too dark for night driving. i always add 20% on the rears and back glass and 35% on the front. i always add an eyebrow on the front windshield. the eyebrow comes down 3-4 inches. the eyebrow also helps in the evening sun. in texas you need all the help you can get to beat the heat.

Hammer2785 · June 30, 2007

I just had the front windows tinted to match the factory dark rear of the extended cab and couldn't be happier. I think the installer used 35% on the fronts to match the rear. I also had the windshield tinted across the top 4 inches to cut down on the glare. I just did the front windows so as to not get to dark, the installer told me that the GM's rear tint is about as dark as legally allows in many states.

krww06 · June 30, 2007

I was planning to tint my windows but I needed some advice seeing how I have never tinted my windows. As of right now I plan to only tint the front two side windows to match the two rear side windows on my NBA crew cab. I wanted to see if I should go darker on the rear windows as well and then match the front ones with them. I was also wondering if you can tint the rear and front windshields. I'm almost positive it is illegal in Texas to tint the front windshield, but can you tint the rear? Anybody that has any answers, info, tips, or advice please post. In your experiances, what looks the best?

Thanks for the help again!

The rear of my '07 NBS is 15%, so I did 15% on my driver and passenger windows. (It is now legal in Oklahoma to get them tinted that dark). I definitely prefer to have them match. However, when you go to get them tinted, talk to the installer and find out what is legal, what is not, and if it's common for people to get pulled over for having them too dark.

FWIW, I have several friends who have their front windows completely tinted, and so far, they have not had any problems with getting pulled over. They said it definitely makes it cooler in the summers, but that it takes quite a while to get used to when driving at night.

TheTrueMoron · June 30, 2007

I got 20% to match the rear windows on my truck. The guy that ran the place where I had my tint done said that he thought the rear windows were only 35%, but I told him to go ahead and put on 20% on the front. Turns out that the rear windows had 20% tint. He was wrong, which made me question why I went ahead and let him tint my windows. Now I've got an even tint on all of my windows (except the windshield), it looks good, and I've got some privacy. They used the 3M tint, which comes with a lifetime warranty against all problems and it all cost me $70. And now I don't have half of me frying in the hot sun while the other half of me is freezing with the A/C. I still haven't had any problems with the police. My friend has 5% all around and he has to roll down all of his windows at night in order to see. He hasn't had any problems with cops, either.

On tint laws in Texas: you can only tint the driver and passenger windows down to 35%, but any windows behind that (backseat and rear window) can be tinted as low as you want. The front windshield can only be tinted at the top.

Sly · June 30, 2007

I was planning to tint my windows but I needed some advice seeing how I have never tinted my windows. As of right now I plan to only tint the front two side windows to match the two rear side windows on my NBA crew cab. I wanted to see if I should go darker on the rear windows as well and then match the front ones with them. I was also wondering if you can tint the rear and front windshields. I'm almost positive it is illegal in Texas to tint the front windshield, but can you tint the rear? Anybody that has any answers, info, tips, or advice please post. In your experiances, what looks the best?

Thanks for the help again!

In Texas you can tint the rear windows as dark as you like. The driver side and passanger window 35%. No tint on the front window. I have 5% all the way around. Depending on where you live you may or may not get hassled by the police. Your state inspection might be difficult to obtain as well.

ryandman89 · June 30, 2007

Thanks guys so much. This really helps me out. I guess my rear windows are 35% from what you guys said and I'm probably going to go get the front two windows to match at 35% sometime this next week. Thanks again for the help!

Sly · June 30, 2007

Thanks guys so much. This really helps me out. I guess my rear windows are 35% from what you guys said and I'm probably going to go get the front two windows to match at 35% sometime this next week. Thanks again for the help!

When I said 35% I meant that is the legal limit for you front windows. If You have the dark tint on the rear from the factory I bet it is close to 20%.

ryandman89 · June 30, 2007

Thanks guys so much. This really helps me out. I guess my rear windows are 35% from what you guys said and I'm probably going to go get the front two windows to match at 35% sometime this next week. Thanks again for the help!

When I said 35% I meant that is the legal limit for you front windows. If You have the dark tint on the rear from the factory I bet it is close to 20%.

I didn't get the dark tint or anything from the factory, I just ordered the truck and didn't do anything special with the tinting. Does that still mean its 20%?

grimmysnr · July 1, 2007

Nope, that just means all you glass is just tempered glass. Depending on how dark you want to go you will have to pay for tint all the way around. So if your back windows are all clear and see through then you have no tint what so ever.

Personally, I recommend 20% all the way around minus the windshield. It looks good and keeps a nice shade but doesnt make it so dark that people give you a hard time.

With 20% and some vent shade visors i think thats a nice touch to accent the appearance of a truck. Just remember if you go any darker than 35% you are in violation of Texas state law. Not that you will serve jail time or anything but just the harassment and mounds of fix it tickets can get aggravating. Like i said, drive like you got some sense and if you do get pulled over for whatever reason dont try and argue with the cop. I hardly think you will have any problems with 20% though since a lot of vehicles are coming stock with that from the factory. Its kind of similar to HIDS which were highly illegal 10 years ago but now they are becoming almost standard.

99blackz · July 3, 2007

Just whatever you do, dont tint your front windsheild. Not a good Idea, From my experience.

AcetyleneDreams · July 3, 2007

I have 5% over the rear windows in my ext. cab truck, and 20% over the front two. My windows are tinted from the factory, but I wanted to black out the back and have the front at least look legal. My tint is not legal on the front two windows since 32% is what most states require, but cops are usually not too worried about tint (at least where I live). For most states, you can go as dark as you want to for the back windows and be legal. That's why I did 5% over the factory tint.

I love everything about my tint. It looks great and keeps me cool. The only downside to having 5% in the back is that at night, I have to open my door to make sure I don't back into anything.