Window Tinting % Level Preferences

[NashvilleR1S]

My shop also matched the rears at 22%. 50% on the windshield. Super happy with everything.

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[DTown3011]

So nobody likes the XPEL Films anymore?

https://www.xpel.com/products/window-film/automotive-window-tint

 

[connoisseurr]

So nobody likes the XPEL Films anymore?

https://www.xpel.com/products/window-film/automotive-window-tint

Tried it twice, don't like it. First time was back in 2018 - had clarity issues. Then again in late 2019 after they had "updated their film chemistry" and found it to be a little better, but noticed it was more prone to scratching compared to their old film, AND to competitors on the market.

Also all XPEL products are heavily overpriced, compared to their competitive counterparts.

 

[DTown3011]

Tried it twice, don't like it. First time was back in 2018 - had clarity issues. Then again in late 2019 after they had "updated their film chemistry" and found it to be a little better, but noticed it was more prone to scratching compared to their old film, AND to competitors on the market.

Also all XPEL products are heavily overpriced, compared to their competitive counterparts.

Got it. I am having some PDR done and the tech has offered to tint my front 2 windows with it “free of charge” while he has the vehicle. Sounds like it might be worth a pass.

 

[connoisseurr]

Got it. I am having some PDR done and the tech has offered to tint my front 2 windows with it “free of charge” while he has the vehicle. Sounds like it might be worth a pass.

If you're getting XPEL tint free of charge, you're either a) overpaying for PDR, or b) getting basic XPEL CS Black (color stable black) film, OR something in lieu of XPEL.

 

[Jayhawkeye]

We ended up matching to the rear, which was tested with a result of 22 percent. We also did the 80 percent UV protection on the front window but did NOT tint because the wifey didn’t want any visibility issues at night.

I was right though! Apparently the factory tint on the back windows of my expedition are 15, so no wonder I thought my vehicles windows looked much darker than the rivian lol.

 

[DTown3011]

Here’s a Reddit thread I started for a Model Y group. Give it a read - it has a ton of great info. The thread has a photo gallery, which includes some photos of my Rivian.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModelY/comments/11qgyvh/all_things_window_tint/

I highly recommend FormulaOne Pinnacle 25 for the front two doors, and Llumar AIR 80 for all rear glass. This gives you a 1-2% difference between front and rear. You can substitute Pinnacle 25 for Llumar IRX 25. FormulaOne is a product line under Llumar, and Pinnacle and IRX are nearly identical film formulas (if not exact same)

I also opted for Pinnacle 50 on the windshield. With Ocean Coast interior, the cabin doesn’t look too dark at all.

I just got a quote for my R1T for Llumar IRX all the way around on all windows for $699 and an additional $250 for Air80 on the windshield. Thoughts on pricing?

Maybe IRX isn't necessary all the way around based on your recommendations above.

 

[connoisseurr]

I just got a quote for my R1T for Llumar IRX all the way around on all windows for $699 and an additional $250 for Air80 on the windshield. Thoughts on pricing?

Maybe IRX isn't necessary all the way around based on your recommendations above.

Ouch.

I typically like to see IRX $400-550. Windshield no more than $250. Try and negotiate that down if possible. You can also look for a FormulaOne Pinnacle dealer. Pinnacle is arguably the same as IRX. Pinnacle prices should be identical to IRX.

I like IRX/Pinnacle 25 on the fronts and AIR 80 on the rears to keep a uniform look.

 

[DTown3011]

Ouch.

I typically like to see IRX $400-550. Windshield no more than $250. Try and negotiate that down if possible. You can also look for a FormulaOne Pinnacle dealer. Pinnacle is arguably the same as IRX. Pinnacle prices should be identical to IRX.

I like IRX/Pinnacle 25 on the fronts and AIR 80 on the rears to keep a uniform look.

I just got another quote of $495 for Pinnacle all the way around and $250 for the Air80 on the windshield.

 

[connoisseurr]

I just got another quote of $495 for Pinnacle all the way around and $250 for the Air80 on the windshield.

Definitely more reasonable. Every market is different. For Northern VA, I paid $419 + $189.

 

[Atlrivian]

I'm very late to the thread, but paid 650 for all windows including windshield for top end xpel. Got 70% on windshield / rear side windows, and 35% on front side windows. Rear windows are ONLY smoked and have no heat rejection properties. So far no issues after about 9 months.

 

[BoIsADog]

I'm very late to the thread, but paid 650 for all windows including windshield for top end xpel. Got 70% on windshield / rear side windows, and 35% on front side windows. Rear windows are ONLY smoked and have no heat rejection properties. So far no issues after about 9 months.

Mind throwing up photos? I'm going for the same set up.

 

[shrink]

I'm very late to the thread, but paid 650 for all windows including windshield for top end xpel. Got 70% on windshield / rear side windows, and 35% on front side windows. Rear windows are ONLY smoked and have no heat rejection properties. So far no issues after about 9 months.

I did the exact same tint percentages on the same exact windows with STEK NEX Series.

Thanks for pointing that out with the rears. I keep saying the rears are privacy glass and not tinted (although it's commonly referred to as "factory tint"). In other words, they are dark and provide some privacy, but I don't think there is a film one can peel back and reveal clear glass. I imagine there is a dye or something inside the glass that darkens it. I also imagine there is some heat rejection, but nowhere near the amount one would get with tint.

So if looks are the main concern and not heat rejection, one can skip tinting the rears and save even more money by skipping ceramic films. But if heat rejection is a concern, I think the benefit would be very limited from tinting the front windows only, but not the rears. I also think 70% on the windshield, which is pretty clear, can make a lot of difference in terms of heat rejection.

Discuss with your local installer of course to figure out what's best for your situation and preferences.

EDIT - adding a pic below of my truck for reference. 70% rears over the privacy glass and 35% front (33% is the legal limit in Arizona). The rears are still a bit darker.

 

[connoisseurr]

I'm very late to the thread, but paid 650 for all windows including windshield for top end xpel. Got 70% on windshield / rear side windows, and 35% on front side windows. Rear windows are ONLY smoked and have no heat rejection properties. So far no issues after about 9 months.

All auto-glass has SOME IR rejection properties, but nowhere near what you get with aftermarket film. Rear heat rejection with the Rivian factory dye is around 16%, with the fronts bringing in roughly 8% LOL.

 

[DTown3011]

I did the exact same tint percentages on the same exact windows with STEK NEX Series.

Thanks for pointing that out with the rears. I keep saying the rears are privacy glass and not tinted (although it's commonly referred to as "factory tint"). In other words, they are dark and provide some privacy, but I don't think there is a film one can peel back and reveal clear glass. I imagine there is a dye or something inside the glass that darkens it. I also imagine there is some heat rejection, but nowhere near the amount one would get with tint.

So if looks are the main concern and not heat rejection, one can skip tinting the rears and save even more money by skipping ceramic films. But if heat rejection is a concern, I think the benefit would be very limited from tinting the front windows only, but not the rears. I also think 70% on the windshield, which is pretty clear, can make a lot of difference in terms of heat rejection.

Discuss with your local installer of course to figure out what's best for your situation and preferences.

EDIT - adding a pic below of my truck for reference. 70% rears over the privacy glass and 35% front (33% is the legal limit in Arizona). The rears are still a bit darker.

This looks perfect to me. I was planning on doing the Llumar Air80 on the windshield and the back glass, 30% on the fronts. I don't actually like my car to be super dark, and really like the way yours looks. Thanks for confirming!

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