Hey guys. I'm in a delemma.. I've chosen my tint shop, (Putnam Window Tint in Mahopac NY.. anyone use 'em?), but i'm a little stuck on what % to get..

They Llumar tint comes with a liftetime warranty, they shave the tint right up to the edge of the window, and they are going to vinyl the inside of the back window on the dot matrix so tinting that is not an issue.

What would you guys recommend? 20% may be a tad too dark, but 35% may be a tad too light... I'd rather it was a little bit too dark.. I dont want to regret what i get because its $235 for the tint job, Its not like i can redo it myself.

Here's a slight photoshop of the tint: (it came out almost 5% though, went too dark)



I appreciate all the responses

Alex

 

my tint is 15% llumar tint and it looks good to me .. mines tinted 15% all around

 

not sure what your local laws are in NY where you are.. but living in CA myself.. I would get 35% VLT tint because I'd rather have a tint that is lighter.. than get cited and forced to take it off.. (more $$$)

 

I got my tint 20% all around and it is no where naer as dark as that phtoshop job The cops never really bother me about it and in the sun/sunroof open it looks pretty light so its no big deal. But on a cloudy day or at night its is perfect.

 

go for the gusto....20....thats what i got

 

hell yea guys

I'm leaning towards the 20%, anyone have any pics they think would contribute to my decision? Would be awesome to see a black teg with 20% or 35% in a few different angles/situations.

Thanks in advance

 

No pics but I'll just say that people can see inside in certain situations and I found out the hard way.

 

35% is all i ever had, matter of fact i just got around to doing my gsr 2 days ago, i can post pics if i can find a host

 

i got 32% all around. the shop that did mine sadi they don't have 35 but they got 32.
here is a pic the way the sun is you can't hardley tell its tinted. but its pretty dark

 

Use 35%, NY State law mandates it. Anything lower and you will be looking at getting citations and possible be asked to remove it. The darkness is not worth the hassle. NY State law also prohibits vehicles from having tint film on the drivers or passenger windows. I am not sure of Mahopac, but if you come further downstate, you may encounter problems.

Llumar film is great. The price may be a little to steep though. Try coming down a little downstate and you may encounter better pricing.

Good luck.

 

I have 20% on the 3 windows in the rear. And at night, I wouldn't be able to tell **** if the cars didn't have their headlights on, know what I mean?

I live in SoCal, so at daytime the 20% in the rear help out alot. My side windows are tinted 35% and I regret going 20 rear/35 sides.

If I had to do it again, I'd tint the windows the same % all around, be it 35 or 20.
I'm leaning towards 20% all around. HTH

 

I've got 35% Llumar and it's not dark enough!!!

looks OK, but I'd go darker given the choice





[Modified by boo96TEG, 4:41 AM 4/2/2002]

 

I've got 20% on the door and triangle windows and 8% on the rear hatch. I think it's perfect. But I like it dark. That's a good price too if the work is good. I paid a little more for mine but it was well worth it, they did an excellent job. We'll see what happens when I go to get inspected, i don't think it will be an issue though.

s

 

gravity, your R is gorgeous... If i had an R i'd probably keep it 35% or no tint at all. However my car is an LS and therefore i have a different image for it

Thanks for the responses... Have you guys had any problems with the Llumar tint turning blue/purple? I hear its really good quality. I just dont want my investment "fading" or turning to crap.. You cant use windex (ammonia) right? What do you [safely] clean the inside of your windows with?

Alex

 

There is stuff called Clear Image I think. It's safe for tinted windows....and I believe Armorall makes a window cleaner safe for tint. Just goto Walmart/Pepboys what ever you like and just check on a few but I use that stuff on my old car whick was limo tint all around. But this post helped me decide that I'm gonna get tint on my GS-R. Thanks fellas.

 

Here's my friend's Civic w/ 20 on the rear and quarter windows and 35 on the side windows.

 

That's 5% on back window and 35% on side.

 

I have 28% Lumar tint all around excluding the front windsheild. It is perfect now because I got a 6" 5% tint strip across the top of the windsheild because the sun would get in my eyes even with the visors down! It made a world of difference and now the tint looks about 5% darker than what it really is....keep in mind that in the pics there is no strip accross the windsheild.





If anyone feels their tint is not dark enough but doesn't want to spend over $100 to get your windows re-tinted, I suggest you get the strip across your windsheild...it looks clean, doesn't obstruct the cars appearance, and isn't "ricey" at all. The most important part is that it serves its function of keeping the sun out of your eyes and making the windows look darker; best of all it only costs $20!

 

awesome pics You guys rock

I've decidedon 20% all around, nothing on the windshield (might get my website's URL on the top in black letters [not very visible unless you tried=not ricey (in my opinion) ] ).

Anyway, anyone wish they went lighter with their tint instead of going with 20?

Any horror cop-experiences?

Alex.

 

one other thing to think of is that the interior plays a big part in the darkness of the tint. a lighter cloth makes the tint seem lighter and a darker on makes the tint seem darker.
most shops should have samples to put on you windows to see waht you like the best.

 

My interior is tan/beige, so 20% should look a little lighter than its supposed to.. Plus i'll keep my sunroof open/uncovered at all times.. You can make dark tint lighter but you cant really make light tint darker... 20% here i come I'll have it done by the end of April hopefully, I need to get an alarm first.

Alex