Should I tint my windows?

[hondaworkshop]

Just getting the big hatch glass on my CRX tinted very dark helped cool it down enough that I never bothered with the side windows.

[DifferentPointofView]

I've seen coupons for a tint job at 99 bucks, but that's around here at the local shops and dealerships, I don't know about there.

Transitions lenses!! thats what they're called? Now I wonder if you can get them for your car... :/

I found this while looking up the name of those lenses

http://www.whynot.net/ideas/2708

[johnpr]

DPoV, just reading one of the comments about the glass made me laugh, the person must not realize that transitional lenses have a coating and that its not the glass that makes it tint. the only problem i had with my lenses when i had them was that about a year after i got them the tint didnt get noticeably darker and the lenses developed a tint even when there wasnt much light.

thats not a problem with glasses because you are supposed to replace them yearly but it could be an issue on your car...

[corvette2000]

I recently tinted my windows myself on my 96 Aspire and man I got frustrated fast with my back window I gave up because there were these long bubble fingers I could not flatten out I used a hairdryer to shrink the tint but did not work so I tinted the back side windows and front windows the back side window came out ok but the front I made some mistakes but will do for now. I did make some calls around and for a 2 door Aspire it was going to cost like $150-120 but I did mine for $22. for the front and back side window.

[Nerys]

Hmmm that reminds me I must tint my jeep windows before I start driving her again. I burn VERY easily. Having my arm on the door sill for the 90minute drive to work is enough to give me sunburn. All my current vehicles have tint from the factory on all door windows and I have not been burned. Where do I get this UV only stuff from?

[LostCause]

The glass should be blocking out almost 100% of the UV radiation from the sun. You will not get burned if the windows are up. Richard Feynman watched the whole trinity test through the window of a truck without any other protection.

I'd imagine tint would only really help if you have a dark interior, but I suppose it won't hurt. I would go one level over legal on the sides and the next level above that on the rear. If you see a cop, roll down your windows.

The transitions lenses sounds like a creative idea, but I wonder what it would cost (if the coating was available)? The welder's helmet idea wouldn't work over so well simply because it requires a current to stay clear. The tint comes from a LCD panel, I believe.

Unless you drive for long periods of time, I'd rather invest in a sunshade or a white car cover for the times you are parked outside.

- LostCause

[Nerys]

Well then my 88 Cherokee broke the rules. it definately does not block UV or at least no where near enough to stop me from burning. :-) I know I have had the sunburn to show for it. I do drive for long period. 90 minutes each way 4 days a week at least and many trips upwards of 20+ hours sometimes :-)

[LostCause]

Reading up on UV light at wikipedia, it looks like "it depends."

Normal window glass will let in 90% of light above 350nm and reflect 90% of light below 300nm. UVA, which is implicated in long term, deeper skin tissue damage, passes through relatively easily. UVB, which is the culprit of sunburns, has a wavelength of 320nm and below.

Pure glass (SiO2) is almost perfectly opaque to both types of UV light, I believe. Some synthetic, specialty "fused quartz" (SiO2, still) are completely transparent to UV light. UV transparency is also dependent on thickness.

Overall, you shouldn't get a sunburn in your car unless you are really sensitive to UV light and/or are exposed to it for a long period of time. Nice to learn that it isn't perfectly protective, though. Richard Feynman didn't go blind or get cataracts...maybe he was lucky (or was looking through pure glass).

- LostCause

[Nden]

go with medium tint on the back 3 windows, so u can still see decently out the back. i've got dark on my back 3 currently,but will have it changed to medium (least the back one) so i can see better out the rear when backing up.

[Frankenstipe]

Keeps the inside cooler so you don't have to use the A/C as much and use up more gas. Or if you don't use your A/C anyway and keep your windows rolled down then it will allow you to roll your windows up and increase your aerodynamics and use less gas.

I'm looking to do mine soon and getting 30% all around.