Let's talk tint (%) for the front side windows

[MakinDoForNow]

It has never been an issue for me when traveling all over the US and my fronts are always 20%. Only time it ever was an issue is when I couldn't get my truck to pass inspection in NC and had to remove the tint on the front windows when I moved from Ohio.

I'm not saying it can't be an issue, I've just never experienced in well over 200k miles of traveling.

Also if you get pulled over.......roll your window down. Put your hands on the steering wheel, help diffuse the situation.

Yes there are times that you should not scratch your hiney.

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[HenryFord]

Actually the states have a compact with each other to honor other states laws and rules. Saying that my tint is legal in my state, but not legal in your state while I am travelling through won't be ticketed.

That is like saying my state says I don't need a front license plate, but your state does require it and I am driving through. If they are in the compact which most states are they will not ticket you.

This compact with the states comes back to bite you however if you are in another state and get a ticket. If you don't pay the ticket when you go to renew your license you will be informed you have an outstanding ticket that must be paid before you can renew your license.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Leave your back/sides and rear (bed) windows alone.
Tell the tint guy that you want to ceramic tint the front/sides as close as is legal in your state.

The problem with that strategy is that is possible that some states allow side window tint FAR darker than the OEM rears. If you want to tint the fronts to match the Ford OEM that is one thing, but "as dark as legal" on the fronts might mean they could be darker than the rears, and that would look odd IMHO.

My truck had illegal tint all around when I bought it used, and I could hardly drive at night or in dark parking garages. I had it pulled off and redone with the max legal all around - which means technically the rears are tint on top of the OEM, but it is not really noticeably different than the fronts.

 

[RussCantrell]

Planning to go 35-40 on my fronts, plus some ceramic on the rears/back glass to help with heat.

Not sure whether or not to go with the "eyebrow", however. Is that even considered stylish anymore?

On one hand, I'm not sure I'd like the solid black bar across the front window. On the other, there's the center piece the mirror connects to. An eyebrow might mask some of that.

 

[Phimosis]

I'm curious what % tint are you folks doing on the front two side windows? It's clear (no pun intended) that the back two side windows are darker than the front two sides so I'm wonder what % tint did you have done to darken up the front two side windows? I think the rear (back) window is tinted fairly dark too so not sure I would want to tint the that one or the windshield. Any pics would be helpful too. I would think that tinting both the front side windows with a high quality ceramic tint would help keep the heat out. Thoughts?

Where I live, in SoCal, the law says 70% is the minimum transmittance on windshield and front sides. In reality, they won’t mess with you if your front side windows are at 40-50%. But if your front sides are at 22-25% like the OEM rear sides are, all bets are off. You may get a fixit ticket that requires that you remove the tint and then get it inspected.

On the other hand, if they detect any degree of full height windshield tinting, they will ticket you.

However, you can legally to tint to the AS1 line.

In my case, I got 55% grey ceramic on front sides and 55% AS1 tint strip on windshield.

Given that stock is 70% transmittance, after adding 55% ceramic tint, I’m at 38.5% transmittance on front sides. (.7 x .55 =0.385)
I am borderline for interdiction with law enforcement.

 

[Larrythelunatic]

The problem with that strategy is that is possible that some states allow side window tint FAR darker than the OEM rears. If you want to tint the fronts to match the Ford OEM that is one thing, but "as dark as legal" on the fronts might mean they could be darker than the rears, and that would look odd IMHO.

My truck had illegal tint all around when I bought it used, and I could hardly drive at night or in dark parking garages. I had it pulled off and redone with the max legal all around - which means technically the rears are tint on top of the OEM, but it is not really noticeably different than the fronts.

Yup……….
I meant (even started) to say “as close to the rears” as he can legally get do.
But you’re right. Don’t want to go darker than the rears. Rather goofy looking!

 

[OB1e]

I'm curious what % tint are you folks doing on the front two side windows? It's clear (no pun intended) that the back two side windows are darker than the front two sides so I'm wonder what % tint did you have done to darken up the front two side windows? I think the rear (back) window is tinted fairly dark too so not sure I would want to tint the that one or the windshield. Any pics would be helpful too. I would think that tinting both the front side windows with a high quality ceramic tint would help keep the heat out. Thoughts?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-window-tint-to-reduce-heat.50488/post-875781

 

[WJOHNM]

But as soon as you cross a state line you could be ticketed for the tint. That's why Ford and every other make puts 50 state compliant. The reason in some states for restriction of dark tint on the front side windows is police being shot because they can't see the gun. Not sure if it is a real problem or the excuse the state gave.

Reading all these posts everybody says check what's legal in your state, does that mean you can't go on a road trip, the PD loves to pull you over for tint in some states and go fishing, what's legal in all 50 states does anyone know?? I would like to do just my 2 front side windows; I don't want to have to worry if I go out of my state.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Reading all these posts everybody says check what's legal in your state, does that mean you can't go on a road trip, the PD loves to pull you over for tint in some states and go fishing, what's legal in all 50 states does anyone know?? I would like to do just my 2 front side windows; I don't want to have to worry if I go out of my state.

If it's legal in your state of registration it's considered legal in all states as long as you do not meet the "resident requirements of the state you are driving in". Could be a sleeping over problem if you have a relationship in a common law state.

 

[Phimosis]

what's legal in all 50 states does anyone know??

Yeah, 70% transmittance for windshield and front side windows. 25% transmittance for rear window and rear side windows.

That is 50 state legal. If it wasn’t, Ford wouldn’t be able to sell mavericks in all 50 states.

 

[WJOHNM]

Many NON-lawyers or LEOs on this thread confuse no front license plate as equal to a unsafe vehicle operation. I asked a local police officer and he said they can not pull you over for the tint but they can issue a ticket for it if you are stopped for any other reason. As he said they are not required to enforce the laws of YOUR state just the state they are officers of. He said if an out of state driver wants to fight it they can go to court, provide a judge with documentation proving it meets the state of Virginia's laws and the judge would dismiss it. Of course there are court fees and returning for court to consider. This link is from lawyers who answered the question.
https://answers.justia.com/question/2024/01/28/can-another-state-site-me-for-an-vehicle-999035
There is NO agreement between state to NOT enforce their laws on out of state drivers period. The state police might let tinting slide but the local Barney Fife's see it as a revenue stream since most people will pay the ticket and not go to court. But again they have to stop you for another violation first, tint even for residents is a secondary offense.

Thank you, I agree a PD officer will give you a ticket even if it's not legal and give them a chance to go fishing, who needs the aggravation.

 

[CeltMAV]

Just got the front window - 6" across - 15% . You young drivers need to know the age of many drivers with decreased vision, that navigating in night driving is weakened. Too much tint maybe fashionable, but not safe. Enjoy your youth!
BTW, I wanted a metallic tint on my front windshield brow... illegal.

 

[Bobby Chapman]

I went with 80% ceramic on all glass. It added almost no "tinting" to the vehicle and you can't tell it was tinted at all. The Ceramic I got was LLumar Air 80, which does a good job at cutting the IR coming in (heat) and eliminates all the UV. I'm very happy with it.

One thing to note is that with Ceramic you'll see a rainbow effect if you wear polarized sunglasses inside.

I don't have pics because you can't tell anything was done to the vehicle. LLumar Air 80 is almost optically clear.

Picks of yours? Please

 

[Cancunbadlands]

20% front ceramic tint matches perfectly rear factory tinted windows

 

[710-oil-614]

20% front ceramic tint matches perfectly rear factory tinted windows

It’s actually not a perfect match and any reputable tint shop will inform you as such. However it is the closest you’ll get to matching the factory rears.

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