Windows tinting questions

[Fakedevil]

I definitely want to tint my windows for the heat reduction and uv protection. My wife will probably want the best one out there, so am I right that xpel prime plus and 3m crystalline are the top choices there?

For a model y, would i ask the installer for quotes that would include all windows, windscreen and the roof? Or is there a reason not to tint say the roof?

 

[zpaul]

I tinted every single car I owned.
Lately I started using FormulaOne tint from Llumar.
Used Pinnacle sires for sedans and was pretty happy with it.
This Time went with Stratos since I tinted only 2 windows. This is their top of the line series. Links below to description and specs.
FormulaOne Stratos
Formula One Tint Specs
Based on you zip code find installer on their site. Make sure to pick Select Pro. It is very difficult to get this certification and keep it.

For me the quality of install has same importance as quality of the tint.
Note: I have 2 installers in my area that are Select Pro certified and there was 25% price difference between them.

Full car install would be around $400-500. Another $100-150 for windscreen.
If you want privacy I would use Stratos too, if you want hit rejection I would use Air 80 Air 80
There is no tint wide enough to tint the roof glass. So most installers will refuse to tint it because they need to seem it.
One of them even told me that tinting it will attract more hit to surface and may even crack the roof.

 

[maximus96]

a 60" roll is wide enough to tint the roof glass.

 

[zpaul]

a 60" roll is wide enough to tint the roof glass.

My shop had only 45" and told me there is no 60".
Again, who knows I think they just don't want to do it. That panoramic roof is huge.

 

[Fakedevil]

Oh so no one tints the roof? Does tesla already have uv protection for the roof?

 

[zpaul]

Oh so no one tints the roof? Does tesla already have uv protection for the roof?

Tesla has some protection in there.
And I am sure if you search hard enough someone will agree to tint it.
I am in Maryland, not Texas or Florida. So I gave up on tinting roof

There is a big discussion on Roof Shade as an option

Tesla Model Y Glass Roof Sunshade

Glass roof sunshade now available to order from Tesmanian.

teslamotorsclub.com

 

[RyFreddy]

There are a lot of topics on this but I don’t see a reason not to at least get a quote for all of it. I’d search around if you’re not already certain what % tint to get, and to also check what’s legal in your state.

The rear passenger windows are only dyed as opposed to tinted (so I’ve read) which means they provide privacy but no real heat or UV protection. I’ve also read that since the roof is one large piece of glass, try to avoid an installer that doesn’t carry the length/width needed to do it all in one piece. If they don’t, I’ve read and seen pics of installers having to do two pieces which creates a line/seam in the rear view. Don’t quote me on that but do a bit of research.

Unlike the rear passenger windows, I believe the roof is somewhat UV protected from the factory. Personally, I’m not going to tint in the roof.

Windshield tints are not allowed in my state so I can’t comment on that.

I don’t even have my MY yet but planning on doing Xpel XR Ceramic (one step down from their most expensive “plus” offering) for tint. My installer also told me that the increased level of UV protection for the Plus is not worth the extra cost… but to each their own. I’m doing 50% on driver/passenger and thinking 70% on the rear doors on top of the dyed factory glass. 70% is extremely light while offering good UV protection which should not make the rears very dark, which is my goal.

 

[ejkcy25]

I live in Florida and got my windshield and 4 door windows done, but didn’t see the need to get the roof done. The windshield makes a huge difference. I got the highest percentage the place could offer on the windshield, I think it was 70% or 80%, which is close to clear/ no color so I can reap the benefits of having it tinted and not worry about it looking darker or getting in trouble for having it tinted. You can barely tell It’s even there.

On super hot days, 90 degrees+, when I get back into the car after it’s been parked in the sun, I can feel the heat emanating from the roof, but it isn’t so bad to where I felt the need to tint it (I’m also not someone who parks it in the sun every single day so that might be a different perspective). I remember people posting in this forum saying not to get roof tinted because it can crack the due to all the heat it accrues but I don’t think anyone actually has proven this. I also know friends in Florida who got their roof tinted and nothing has has happened to their glass.

I didn’t get the rear/ trunk window tinted because I heard stories and also have seen it where the painted heater lines (forgot what the actual name for this is) gets messed up when tint is applied on it or removed from it.

Hope this helps!

 

[whisperingshad]

I have used Crystalline 3m on my prime windshield and front windows and its way better than the color stable 35 5% for heat.
I am going with Prime XR Plus on the Y this weekend. Full car $900.

 

[Fakedevil]

Alright so sounds like folks just do the 4 doors and windshield.. will go get some quotes..

 

[maximus96]

I cheaped out and bought a pre-cut set of Prime XR from ebay for about $140 shipped. DIY installed after watching a bunch of videos and it turned out pretty good. Heat rejection was a big improvement when we had a few hot days last week.

 

[anteater]

I have used Crystalline 3m on my prime windshield and front windows and its way better than the color stable 35 5% for heat.
I am going with Prime XR Plus on the Y this weekend. Full car $900.

How was the tint? Can you share your installer?

 

[Seminole]

Be aware the 3M crystalline has a blueish hue to it so the front windows won’t match the rest of the car that has factory tint. The Xpel Prime Plus is comparable to crystalline without the hue. 3M also introduced a new Cermaic IR product that is just a step below the crystalline which is what I went with and will match the factory tint color.

 

[zikronix]

Just did xpel prime xr 55% on the back windows/quarter windows/hatch, 20% on the front. It matches pretty good. Didnt do the windshield because they didnt have 80/90/100. They didnt have time to do the roof glass, so I gotta go back. But Im going to get it done at 55 too. Were in Arizona

 

[whisperingshad]

How was the tint? Can you share your installer?

Pm me

 

[SouthBayGuy]

I got 30% Xpel Prime Plus on my front windows and 70% on the windshield. I can see a slight color difference between the front windows and rear windows. But my main concern was heat rejection. So I am happy. I noticed the front windshield now rejects more heat than the sunroof. Which is impressive since the sunroof is supposed to reject heat too. FYI. OEM rear windows is at about 24% and OEM front windows are at about 80%. So applying a 30% tint on the front windows should get you pretty close to the same light filtering as the rears if you all your windows to look the same.

 

[Vinny L.]

for all Tesla fans, I tinted my model Y last week, I use ceramic 20% front side windows and 60% on the windshield.

I was unsure about tint the windshield and the 20%, but made a choice and car looks insane great!

If you are on the fence about 20% and 35% I would recommend 20%. See pics

 

[gherkin12]

Quick question regarding tinting (apologies for hijacking the thread) as in all the cars i've owned i've never actually tinted any windows (living in the UK its not really worth it IMO) however I believe (now living in Las Vegas and with the temperature the same as the Sun's surface) I need to get it done for the MY. Am i right in presuming that the lower the percentage of the film the darker the tint, also are you allowed to tint the windscreen? Also what should I be looking for in a film - appreciate that there are some links above but i won't lie i don't fully understand some of the specs.

 

[Seminole]

Quick question regarding tinting (apologies for hijacking the thread) as in all the cars i've owned i've never actually tinted any windows (living in the UK its not really worth it IMO) however I believe (now living in Las Vegas and with the temperature the same as the Sun's surface) I need to get it done for the MY. Am i right in presuming that the lower the percentage of the film the darker the tint, also are you allowed to tint the windscreen? Also what should I be looking for in a film - appreciate that there are some links above but i won't lie i don't fully understand some of the specs.

The numbers you see are the percent of visible light let through. So a 5% tint will only be letting 5% of the visible light through. 70% will let 70% through. The Lower the number the darker.

You want a high quality tint. Something ceramic at a minimum to stop any interference that metallic tints can cause. You also want something with good infrared and solar rejection. A lot of sites will tell you the percent of solar energy rejected for that specific tint. You can also tint your windshield. It’s likely not legal but a lighter tint such as 70% would still be a big improvement in infrared and solar energy rejection from having nothing. Also look for a retailer who uses name brand tints like Xpel or 3M. Avoid no name brands.

 

[SouthBayGuy]

Just to add to this, there are videos on youtube comparing the heat rejection capabilities of various ceramic tints. Years ago, I thought all ceramic tints were the same.