Best non-blue tint at 50% or lighter?

[noshadow]

Looking for a black colored tint. I'm thinking of 50% or more light transfer, and was planning on 3M crystalline or huber optik, but both are pretty blue.

What else is out there that provides good heat/light blocking without going blue?

[integroid]

Formula 1 pinnacle
Llumar Ceramic

[noshadow]

Thanks! I'll look into that.

[noshadow]

The same shop that was going to do my 3M Crystalline has suntek. They say it's a charcoal color. Is that pretty black?

[integroid]

I would only use a ceramic tint....Charcoal is dark grey/black......50% will be very light in color though.

[integroid]

Also, you can do some research on tintdude.com. They have a lot of great info over there and mostly installers on the board. Make sure and stuff a towel over your amp before getting your car tinted (located n the access panel on the driver side trunk). There is a channel that the water will go down from the rear glass and land right on top of the amp which will cause it to short.

[schirm]

Also, you can do some research on tintdude.com. They have a lot of great info over there and mostly installers on the board. Make sure and stuff a towel over your amp before getting your car tinted (located n the access panel on the driver side trunk). There is a channel that the water will go down from the rear glass and land right on top of the amp which will cause it to short.

Good to know

[MrFunk]

Hi-Performance Charcoal (Blackish Gray Color)

I'm not sure of the brand I've got - but I'm running 50% windows and 70% windshield. Absolutely no blue-ish-

[noshadow]

I would only use a ceramic tint....Charcoal is dark grey/black......50% will be very light in color though.

Thanks for all the good info! The color of the suntek is "dark charcoal," whereas the material is still ceramic.

50% will be light, but just want to avoid the bluish tint that the other tints have. I think think that looks great on most cars, but my car will be black with the xpel stealth wrap, so the blue would be really distracting and obvious.

[skiracerblah]

My wife has 50% tint on her front windows. I forget which brand she has, but you can barely tell there's any tint on the windows...

[MrFunk]

This are a few pics of 50% ceramic... I don't have any pics of the tinted windshield - this was prior...

[jfabes]

^^^ i've seen other cars on this forum at 50% and they are way lighter than yours. I have 30% and it is only very slightly darker. I was going to give a jab about why even bothering doing such a light tint, but yours looks good :)

[integroid]

That looks too dark to be 50% tint. What kind is it suppose to be?

[MrFunk]

It's 50%... Ceramic tint. I think it looks nice... I confirmed about 5 times that they were doing 50% before they put it on cause I didn't want trouble with the boys in blue. They showed me 40% in ceramic on another car and mine was obviously lighter. Ceramic reflects light more so that also adds to why it looks a bit darker.

However - my GF has 50% on her fiat and it looks way lighter cause she has a big sun roof with just a mesh shade which lets in a lot of light (I keep my shade closed) and her interior is tan... having a dark interior makes a very big difference. Her also is NOT ceramic tint...

[MrFunk]

Couple more angles
I'm 100% sure it's 50%... Ceramic has the effect of looking a bit darker with the effectiveness...

[noshadow]

It's 50%... Ceramic tint. I think it looks nice... I confirmed about 5 times that they were doing 50% before they put it on cause I didn't want trouble with the boys in blue. They showed me 40% in ceramic on another car and mine was obviously lighter. Ceramic reflects light more so that also adds to why it looks a bit darker.

However - my GF has 50% on her fiat and it looks way lighter cause she has a big sun roof with just a mesh shade which lets in a lot of light (I keep my shade closed) and her interior is tan... having a dark interior makes a very big difference. Her also is NOT ceramic tint...

Looks awesome, wish you knew the brand name!

[MrFunk]

^^ I'll find out. Email sent to the shop that did it.

[integroid]

It's 50%... Ceramic tint. I think it looks nice... I confirmed about 5 times that they were doing 50% before they put it on cause I didn't want trouble with the boys in blue. They showed me 40% in ceramic on another car and mine was obviously lighter. Ceramic reflects light more so that also adds to why it looks a bit darker.

However - my GF has 50% on her fiat and it looks way lighter cause she has a big sun roof with just a mesh shade which lets in a lot of light (I keep my shade closed) and her interior is tan... having a dark interior makes a very big difference. Her also is NOT ceramic tint...

I use to work at a tint shop so I know the differences between tints and ceramic tint doesnt make the tint any darker. It still lets in the same amount of light that it is rated at. I have 40% Formula 1 Pinnacle (ceramic) and your car looks every bit as dark as my car and I have my front windshield tinted in Llumar Air80. Yes, I actually looked at the box of tint they were using during install to confirm I was getting the tint I asked for. Back in the day I had 50% tint on my front windshield I am positive it was not that dark. Curious on brand as that could play a factor on the darkness as well. I guess the only real way to tell the % would be with a light transmission gauge like the police have.

[afdent11]

I use to work at a tint shop so I know the differences between tints and ceramic tint doesnt make the tint any darker. It still lets in the same amount of light that it is rated at. I have 40% Formula 1 Pinnacle (ceramic) and your car looks every bit as dark as my car and I have my front windshield tinted in Llumar Air80. Yes, I actually looked at the box of tint they were using during install to confirm I was getting the tint I asked for. Back in the day I had 50% tint on my front windshield I am positive it was not that dark. Curious on brand as that could play a factor on the darkness as well. I guess the only real way to tell the % would be with a light transmission gauge like the police have.

So the makeup of the tint could not have ANY effect on the perceived darkness even if it is technically letting the same amount of light through? It seems very plausible to me that different brands/types of tint that read the same on the meter might appear to have varying shades depending on the viewing angle (meaning two tints look the same at a 90 degree angle, but one looks much darker at a 45 degree angle)

I know this is subjective, but I feel like my 35% Llumar CTXi (same as Formula One Pinnacle) looks the exact same as the 35% non-ceramic tint I had on a previous car when I look straight on from the side of the car (90 degree angle). However, when I look from the front corner at about a 45 degree angle, the ceramic looks much darker than it did on my previous car. I looked at old pictures to confirm and both cars had all black interiors.

Maybe we'll never know

[integroid]

How can it let in the same amount of light and be darker? The whole point on the laws of tint shades is so the officer can see inside the vehicle. I dont care what it actually looks like on the outside....My point is I can see about as much of his interior as I can on my 40% tint. The reason it seems darker on the ceramic tint at a 45 degree angle is probably due to the glare the ceramic tint puts off vs the non ceramic tint. Maybe he could post a pic of looking at the side straight on like you said. It is probably just the angle of the pics.

[MrFunk]

I use to work at a tint shop so I know the differences between tints and ceramic tint doesnt make the tint any darker. It still lets in the same amount of light that it is rated at. I have 40% Formula 1 Pinnacle (ceramic) and your car looks every bit as dark as my car and I have my front windshield tinted in Llumar Air80. Yes, I actually looked at the box of tint they were using during install to confirm I was getting the tint I asked for. Back in the day I had 50% tint on my front windshield I am positive it was not that dark. Curious on brand as that could play a factor on the darkness as well. I guess the only real way to tell the % would be with a light transmission gauge like the police have.

I didn't say it was darker. I said it perceives to be darker.
It's 50%. Fact. No doubt at all...
Ceramic has a reflective sheen which is why it rejects more heat vs non ceramic tint.

[wwhan]

I have 70% 3M Crystalline on my front side and rear side windows, it does Not seem to attract the police/tickets in California.

Lookout driving down 101 near Redwood city, the CHP tickets cars with Tint all the time in that section.

[MrFunk]

How can it let in the same amount of light and be darker? The whole point on the laws of tint shades is so the officer can see inside the vehicle. I dont care what it actually looks like on the outside....My point is I can see about as much of his interior as I can on my 40% tint. The reason it seems darker on the ceramic tint at a 45 degree angle is probably due to the glare the ceramic tint puts off vs the non ceramic tint. Maybe he could post a pic of looking at the side straight on like you said. It is probably just the angle of the pics.

Truth - it's the angle. I couldn't find any direct pics from the side. From angles it reflects more which gives the illusion of being darker.

[afdent11]

How can it let in the same amount of light and be darker? The whole point on the laws of tint shades is so the officer can see inside the vehicle. I dont care what it actually looks like on the outside....My point is I can see about as much of his interior as I can on my 40% tint. The reason it seems darker on the ceramic tint at a 45 degree angle is probably due to the glare the ceramic tint puts off vs the non ceramic tint. Maybe he could post a pic of looking at the side straight on like you said. It is probably just the angle of the pics.

I didn't say it was darker. I used the words "perceived darkness."

Anyway, regardless of the effect the ceramic has on the apparent darkness, you still have interior color, whether the sunroof shade is open or closed, windshield tinted or not, exterior lighting, exterior color of the car, etc, that will all affect how dark the tint appears making any internet comparison pretty difficult.

[noshadow]

More non-blue tints!?

[integroid]

I didn't say it was darker. I used the words "perceived darkness."

Anyway, regardless of the effect the ceramic has on the apparent darkness, you still have interior color, whether the sunroof shade is open or closed, windshield tinted or not, exterior lighting, exterior color of the car, etc, that will all affect how dark the tint appears making any internet comparison pretty difficult.

Like I said, I have 40% F1 Pinnacle, windshield tinted 80% Llumar Air, and all black interior and his pics look just as dark as mine. The more I look at it the more I think it is the angle of the pics. None of them are straight on so hard to tell how dark it really is.

[integroid]

More non-blue tints!?

I will try and take a pic of mine tomorrow but the only blue premium tints are Crystaline, Winco, and Huper Optik. The rest of the ceramics seem to be Charcoal color. Winco and HO have a lot more blue in them.

[noshadow]

I will try and take a pic of mine tomorrow but the only blue premium tints are Crystaline, Winco, and Huper Optik. The rest of the ceramics seem to be Charcoal color. Winco and HO have a lot more blue in them.

Thanks so much! Looking forward to the photos.

[MrFunk]

Like I said, I have 40% F1 Pinnacle, windshield tinted 80% Llumar Air, and all black interior and his pics look just as dark as mine. The more I look at it the more I think it is the angle of the pics. None of them are straight on so hard to tell how dark it really is.

Agreed... which is why I like this ceramic tint... 50% looks (is perceived) to be as dark as say 40%..
After I put the windshield tint on it looks even darker.

[jlaudio]

I am having Crystalline 40% installed on saturday, i can snap a few high res pics after its done

[integroid]

Agreed... which is why I like this ceramic tint... 50% looks (is perceived) to be as dark as say 40%..
After I put the windshield tint on it looks even darker.

My F1 Pinnacle 40% is ceramic tint....so yours still shouldnt look darker or just as dark as my car.......that has been my point

Can you take a straight on pic of the side of the car in sunlight?

[MrFunk]

Looks awesome, wish you knew the brand name!

It was GeoShields nano ceramic film

[MrFunk]

My F1 Pinnacle 40% is ceramic tint....so yours still shouldnt look darker or just as dark as my car.......that has been my point

Can you take a straight on pic of the side of the car in sunlight?

The car is in storage right now... I'm rocking the Wrangler this winter...
It's just the angles man... the difference between 40 and 50 is not HUGE either...

[noshadow]

I'm thoroughly confused about integroid and mr funk's discussion. I feel like you're both saying the same thing haha.

[wwhan]

Here is an example with 3M Crystalline clear 70% on the side windows, 50% standard tint in the back window

[b8audis4]

Here is an example with 3M Crystalline clear 70% on the side windows, 50% standard tint in the back window

Looks great!

[noshadow]

Here is an example with 3M Crystalline clear 70% on the side windows, 50% standard tint in the back window

great car, and yeah, the slight tint looks classy. The 3M does have that blue hue though. Really looks good on white.

Still looking for something that's not blue tinted.

[MrFunk]

I'm thoroughly confused about integroid and mr funk's discussion. I feel like you're both saying the same thing haha.

LOL... sorry mate.

I was just saying that the reason my tint looks dark is because of the angles of the pictures, the black interior, and that the tint is ceramic and "reflective" in nature.
He was questioning if it was in fact 50% and not darker... it is 50%, I'm sure of it.
Then I closed in saying that the difference between a 50% tint and a 40% tint of the same type is pretty small... internet pics may be hard to see the difference...

[integroid]

Yeah we were basically saying the same thing but I was just tryig to point out that my car has his exact same scenario except my car was 40% ceramic tint but yet his car looks just as dark as mine.

[jlaudio]

At the tint shop right now getting the car tinted. I ended up going Crystalline 50% because the 40% is special order. Owner has a b8 s4 that is tinted 50% crystalline and it looks exceptional and maintains that high class look of the s4.

I;ll try to post pictures later once its done since its sunny today.