Window Tinting % Level Preferences

[Chewy734]

I have Xpel nano ceramic 70% everywhere factory tinted and front windshield, 45% on the front windows, and I didn’t touch the roof (yet).

We will see how this fares over my trip to Yosemite, Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, and Death Valley over the next two weeks. Hopefully it’ll work good enough.

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[DTown3011]

I agree, I just couldn't stomach an additional $700+ just to do the roof. If I was quoted your price, I would have seriously had to think hard about it.

 

[Hilbe]

Just did Llumar Air 80 on all the privacy glass (roof, rear hatch, rear windows) and windshield. This is nearly transparent film so shouldn't cause problems. Roof was only $300 from my shop. Total was $800 for everything.

 

[quartz]

XPEL ceramic -- 50% on the front, 70% everywhere else (including windshield and roof).

$850 total

 

[DTown3011]

Just did Llumar Air 80 on all the privacy glass (roof, rear hatch, rear windows) and windshield. This is nearly transparent film so shouldn't cause problems. Roof was only $300 from my shop. Total was $800 for everything.

Dunno where you guys are located, but I called 3-4 shops in Colorado and Llumar IRX/Pinnacle/Stratos was $800-1000 for everything and windshield + an additional $600-700 to do the roof. All basically the same. Y'all get some cheap tint!

 

[connoisseurr]

Stratos is a great product, but does suffer from low-angle haze, which you may begin to experience as the film dries. The haze is caused by the middle adhesive layer sandwiching two individual layers of manufactured film. The same phenomena exists for SunTek Evolve (a more blue film), and the soon-to-be publicly released Llumar NXT.

Coincidentally F1 Pinnacle Pinnacle did "get better" back in 2019 when Llumar IRX was released. When doing a side-by-side comparison, I noticed identical final VLT, IR and UV rejection numbers for IRX and Pinnacle. It's been speculated for years that Llumar dumbs down their numbers on Llumar-line films, simply to make FormulaOne products seem more premium.

Eastman Performance Films owns Llumar, FormulaOne and SunTek.

 

[connoisseurr]

Dunno where you guys are located, but I called 3-4 shops in Colorado and Llumar IRX/Pinnacle/Stratos was $800-1000 for everything and windshield + an additional $600-700 to do the roof. All basically the same. Y'all get some cheap tint!

Every market is different, unfortunately. My preferred shops in Northern VA charge $589 for all side glass and windshield (R1T). Roof is an extra $250. All using Llumar and F1 products.

 

[DTown3011]

Every market is different, unfortunately. My preferred shops in Northern VA charge $589 for all side glass and windshield (R1T). Roof is an extra $250. All using Llumar and F1 products.

That's insanity. Significantly less than Colorado. Ugh!

 

[shrink]

Stratos is a great product, but does suffer from low-angle haze, which you may begin to experience as the film dries. The haze is caused by the middle adhesive layer sandwiching two individual layers of manufactured film. The same phenomena exists for SunTek Evolve (a more blue film), and the soon-to-be publicly released Llumar NXT.

Coincidentally F1 Pinnacle Pinnacle did "get better" back in 2019 when Llumar IRX was released. When doing a side-by-side comparison, I noticed identical final VLT, IR and UV rejection numbers for IRX and Pinnacle. It's been speculated for years that Llumar dumbs down their numbers on Llumar-line films, simply to make FormulaOne products seem more premium.

Eastman Performance Films owns Llumar, FormulaOne and SunTek.

How are earth do you know so much about tint? I am impressed with your knowledge.

 

[Friscorays]

FYI Pinnacle 30 will leave your front windows slightly lighter compared to the rears after application of AIR 80.

Pinnacle 25 + AIR 80 will be a 1% VLT difference, which is a near perfect match.

I based my choices on your recommendations here on the forum and appreciate them. I would have gone with Pinnacle 25 but Texas requires more than 25% transmission through front windows to be legal.

 

[r1spvaz]

What is the recommendation for the front windshield if you want to avoid any chance of haze? Also, I was told there is some distortion if you tint the front windshield and use polarized sunglasses -is there any way to avoid this as well? Thanks

 

[jemkewl]

What is the recommendation for the front windshield if you want to avoid any chance of haze? Also, I was told there is some distortion if you tint the front windshield and use polarized sunglasses -is there any way to avoid this as well? Thanks

Have had xr plus 70 for almost a year now. 99% UV rejection and 92% IR rejection. No blueish haze, no problem with headlights at night, no issues with odd low sky reflections, etc.

Don't use polarized sunglasses, so can't help there. I would imagine the polarized sunglasses won't darken much as the wavelengths of light to do so will be blocked or greatly reduced.

 

[chandlerr85]

What is the recommendation for the front windshield if you want to avoid any chance of haze? Also, I was told there is some distortion if you tint the front windshield and use polarized sunglasses -is there any way to avoid this as well? Thanks

I didn't realize that was a thing before I got my windshield done... but I have noticed that some colors can look a little different. I wouldn't change anything though.

 

[connoisseurr]

How are earth do you know so much about tint? I am impressed with your knowledge.

I spent near 10 years tinting automotive and residential applications, and since I've departed the industry, I stay connected to reps and my tinting professionals/colleagues. I get to put hands on new products that hit the market, and continue testing where possible.

If you want a quick deep-dive on window film, here's a Reddit article I dropped on the r/TeslaModelY subreddit, because every day, there's roughly 2-3 posts for window tint questions.

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