Clear Ceramic Tint - Anyone running it?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'd like to get rid of my arm being scalding hot any time the Texas sun shines on it while in my 'Cuda. My new [tinted] cars don't feel the same way. At the same time, I don't want a dark tint for aesthetic reasons.

Has anyone used clear ceramic tint on their car? Apparently it cuts 99% of UV rays, 60% of solar energy and 80% of infrared heat into the vehicle, which is pretty substantial. In addition, blocking the UV is like putting sunscreen on your dash, seats, etc..nice!



I am curious if anyone has installed this on their car and what their thoughts were? Did you do the windshield as well?

[FlyDoc]

I had it put on the sunroof of the wife's Chalanger, we love it, no longer getting the Texas death oven cook when the sun shade is open.
I would recommend it.

[icemanrd19]

Just did it last week. Same tint shade as the factory tint but 100 times better blocking heat. Pictures don’t do it justice. I went to tritek in garland. 70% tint. Highly recommended. I’m in allen if you want to see it.

https://www.facebook.com/48502792/posts/10101619733897566/

[Rag Top Rob]

It works......believe all the hype........amazing stuff!!

[vette427-sbc]

The windshield is usually the biggest piece of glass in the car... Definitely do it!

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Just did it last week. Same tint shade as the factory tint but 100 times better blocking heat. Pictures don’t do it justice. I went to tritek in garland. 70% tint. Highly recommended. I’m in allen if you want to see it.

https://www.facebook.com/48502792/posts/10101619733897566/

May I ask what it cost? Did you do the windshield? What car?

[icemanrd19]

May I ask what it cost? Did you do the windshield? What car?

Link didn’t work? $450 without the windshield. 67 camaro

[LemonTwisted]

I did 40% 3M Crystalline all around except for the windshield and it made a big difference in keeping the heat out. Keep in mind that if you do any events like Good Guys or HRPT they may require you to place stickers on the inside of the windshield which may mess up the tint when you remove them.

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[GoodysGotaCuda]

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Finally pulled the trigger on it, all of the glass got 72% ceramic tint today, windshield included. Can't wait to get it out once the rain stays away and feel the improvement.

For what it's worth, I could not find anyone that offered a higher percent transmitted light ceramic tint. They were all around 70%.

[Gmachine1911]

163070163071


Finally pulled the trigger on it, all of the glass got 72% ceramic tint today, windshield included. Can't wait to get it out once the rain stays away and feel the improvement.

For what it's worth, I could not find anyone that offered a higher percent transmitted light ceramic tint. They were all around 70%.


So just put all new glass in my 68 Camaro and been looking into some ceramic tint. It's been a minute since you got yours done and I wanted to get your thoughts? Worth it?

Everyone I've called in my area either claims it's a gimmick or swears by it. Only thing I've not found is someone that can do the clear tint. I'm not much on the dark tint on my Camaro (love it on my personal vehicles) but I'm primarily interested in the heat/UV benefit. Love to hear some more input on this...

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163070163071


Finally pulled the trigger on it, all of the glass got 72% ceramic tint today, windshield included. Can't wait to get it out once the rain stays away and feel the improvement.

For what it's worth, I could not find anyone that offered a higher percent transmitted light ceramic tint. They were all around 70%.


So just put all new glass in my 68 Camaro and been looking into some ceramic tint. It's been a minute since you got yours done and I wanted to get your thoughts? Worth it?

Everyone I've called in my area either claims it's a gimmick or swears by it. Only thing I've not found is someone that can do the clear tint. I'm not much on the dark tint on my Camaro (love it on my personal vehicles) but I'm primarily interested in the heat/UV benefit. Love to hear some more input on this...

[GoodysGotaCuda]

So just put all new glass in my 68 Camaro and been looking into some ceramic tint. It's been a minute since you got yours done and I wanted to get your thoughts? Worth it?

Everyone I've called in my area either claims it's a gimmick or swears by it. Only thing I've not found is someone that can do the clear tint. I'm not much on the dark tint on my Camaro (love it on my personal vehicles) but I'm primarily interested in the heat/UV benefit. Love to hear some more input on this...

Thus far, I am a believer. It's only been in the low 80's in North Texas, but our hot 100°+ days are coming soon.

The tint I have is not "clear" but it is as clear as I could find at 72%. Only 28% of the visible light is blocked, my wife isn't able to tell a difference in the aesthetics of the glass. With that, I feel most everyone else don't really see it as a "tinted car", which was my intent.

As far as performance, I can definitely feel the reduction of heat on myself as I go down the road on a bright and sunny day. Before it wouldn't take long for my skin to warm up from the sunlight baking through the glass, so that has improved. The multiple times I have left the car out on a ~80° day with just the windows cracked I have gotten into the car and it's "warm" but not nearly as baking as it would be before. My non-ceramic tinted 2016 WRX daily driver is warmer during similar conditions.

Also, I've noticed the slight tint on the windshield has reduced glare during night driving, which has been a pleasant surprise.


That said, at some point I believe I'll look at converting our daily drivers over to ceramic tint, the Summers here are just too hot to ignore the tangible benefits I have experienced.

[Gmachine1911]

Thus far, I am a believer. It's only been in the low 80's in North Texas, but our hot 100°+ days are coming soon.

The tint I have is not "clear" but it is as clear as I could find at 72%. Only 28% of the visible light is blocked, my wife isn't able to tell a difference in the aesthetics of the glass. With that, I feel most everyone else don't really see it as a "tinted car", which was my intent.

As far as performance, I can definitely feel the reduction of heat on myself as I go down the road on a bright and sunny day. Before it wouldn't take long for my skin to warm up from the sunlight baking through the glass, so that has improved. The multiple times I have left the car out on a ~80° day with just the windows cracked I have gotten into the car and it's "warm" but not nearly as baking as it would be before. My non-ceramic tinted 2016 WRX daily driver is warmer during similar conditions.

Also, I've noticed the slight tint on the windshield has reduced glare during night driving, which has been a pleasant surprise.


That said, at some point I believe I'll look at converting our daily drivers over to ceramic tint, the Summers here are just too hot to ignore the tangible benefits I have experienced.




Thank you for the info, most appreciated! If you have any additional pics of the car in the sun outside (maybe a side shot) to get a better idea of the tint shade, that'd be great. I'd love to know what brand got used as I'm going for the same look you did. In my area no one seems to have heard of the ceramic tint when you ask and the few that have don't instill confidence. Therefore, since there doesn't seem to be a "resident expert" that can have an educated conversation about the tint, I feel it's even more important for me to get educated so I can be sure to get the outcome I want. Thanks again!

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Thank you for the info, most appreciated! If you have any additional pics of the car in the sun outside (maybe a side shot) to get a better idea of the tint shade, that'd be great. I'd love to know what brand got used as I'm going for the same look you did. In my area no one seems to have heard of the ceramic tint when you ask and the few that have don't instill confidence. Therefore, since there doesn't seem to be a "resident expert" that can have an educated conversation about the tint, I feel it's even more important for me to get educated so I can be sure to get the outcome I want. Thanks again!


I'll have to work on getting some clearer photos, perhaps windows up/windows down on a tripod to help show the difference. It seems like it hasn't quit raining here in North Texas for two weeks now.

I didn't have any issues finding someone here that sold ceramic tint, the tinter did have to order it, however. He also left quite a bit of extra [free], i'll likely use it on my D100. SunTek, 3M, Madico, etc. all sell ceramic tint. I used a mobile tint guy that seemed reputable on Facebook and had a few local installs, he did a fine job.

I have the NC [NanoCeramic] 75 tint
https://madico.com/automotive/window-tint/black-pearl-nano-ceramic


https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163070&d=1554257813

[vette427-sbc]

Im a dealer for SolarGard and we do alot of their nano-ceramic 70%. Ive actually had people come back to tell me how well it worked. The last one I did was an 80's Porsche 911. The customer said his AC was struggling to keep up on really hot days... had everything (windshield included) done in 70%. To the average person, you couldnt tell the car was tinted. I ran into him later and asked how well it worked and he said he doesnt even have to put the AC to max anymore to keep it cool inside.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Im a dealer for SolarGard and we do alot of their nano-ceramic 70%. Ive actually had people come back to tell me how well it worked. The last one I did was an 80's Porsche 911. The customer said his AC was struggling to keep up on really hot days... had everything (windshield included) done in 70%. To the average person, you couldnt tell the car was tinted. I ran into him later and asked how well it worked and he said he doesnt even have to put the AC to max anymore to keep it cool inside.



That's good to hear. It seems like i'll get a chance to drive it later this week and it should be around 90° later in the week.

I think one other benefit that seems to fly under the radar is the UV protection. A restored 'Cuda dash pad is around a thousand bucks, being able to provide it nearly 100% UV protection in the Texas summer is a pretty wise thing to do.

[gkring]

We use Air90 at our dealerships,
I did it on my 1970 Datsun 240Z and it looks clear as advertised. Also did it on my GMC truck. Can't really speak to how it affects AC performance as Z car doesn't have any and the truck works great anyway.
http://cdn.llumar.com/drupal/llumarautomotivespecifications2018september.pdf

[ULTM8Z]

I've been following this thread... probably going to this before summer starts. Sounds promising. But probably very light on the actual tint.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I've been following this thread... probably going to this before summer starts. Sounds promising. But probably very light on the actual tint.

I wouldn't hesitate on doing it again, windshield included.

[130fe]

I looked into it at a local tint shop. The ceramic tint is $289 plus $125 for “clear” (has very slight tint) for the windshield. I think I will do it on my car and my Silverado after I get back from my next trip in about a month (installer was booked for the rest of this week).

[Wacker7977]

What shop did you go to? I just bought a GTO and was thinking about doing this

[ULTM8Z]

I have an appointment with a local glass shop to install some of the ceramic stuff. Will post up on results.

[chuckd71]

Have it on my windshield. Love it.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I have an appointment with a local glass shop to install some of the ceramic stuff. Will post up on results.

Sounds good!

[ULTM8Z]

Just had it installed. 75% on windshield and sides (basically the minimum tint), but I went for 50% on rear. Have to say I noticed the difference pretty much immediately. It's a clear day at about 90F right now, and you can definitely feel how much less IR heat is coming in through the windows.

What's also noticeable is that it takes a lot longer for the car to heat up on the inside when I park it in the sun.

IMO, the amount of tint is perfect for a classic car. You can tell it's tinted, but it's just right. So yeah, I'm happy.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Just had it installed. 75% on windshield and sides (basically the minimum tint), but I went for 50% on rear. Have to say I noticed the difference pretty much immediately. It's a clear day at about 90F right now, and you can definitely feel how much less IR heat is coming in through the windows.

What's also noticeable is that it takes a lot longer for the car to heat up on the inside when I park it in the sun.

IMO, the amount of tint is perfect for a classic car. You can tell it's tinted, but it's just right. So yeah, I'm happy.



Nice! It is impressive stuff and really just makes going anywhere more enjoyable.

I put 150 miles on my car today in some pretty serious heat.

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[68Formula]

I had a 50% ceramic tint done before on a daily driver, and the difference was amazing. Before on long summer drives I could feel my left side getting cooked. Added to driver fatigue some too. I didn't expect much, since it was pretty minimal but wow, tremendous difference!

Prior to that, I had used darker standard tint, and it didn't no much in terms of reducing heat as it did light. All tinting I have done now use ceramic. To me, it's worth the cost difference. Keeps the interior cooler in the summer which is not only helpful for comfort but longevity of non-metallic interior components. Plus reduces driver fatigue no only from eye strain but localized heat exposure. Definitely not a gimmick.

[130fe]

I just had my silverado done with the ceramic 20 and the clear on the windshield. That mixed with the rear window and doors came out looking good. I am not a big fan of super dark tint. Had to go out of town on business so I haven't been able to give a report yet with the FL sun. If I like it I plan on doing all of the clear stuff on my camaro, those windows already have a smoked tint in them already.

[ULTM8Z]

Just a quick photo I snapped in a parking lot...

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[GoodysGotaCuda]

Looks good!

[vette427-sbc]

I figured Id add some info here for those of you that are going to take your cars to get tinted, since I just did a '55 Chevy and took some photos long the way. Tinting a classic car is a bit different than the average newer car, so its a plus if the shop is familiar with classic cars.
My biggest pet peeve is being able to see the edge of the film on windows. Especially stationary windows (ie: front/rear windshield) Its very difficult to tint gasketed windows cleanly and have the film edge be minimal or hidden. I recommended to the customer here to remove the rear window and tint it out of the car. This way the tint can be brought past the gasket edge and wont be seen. This method also greatly reduces the amount of dirt and dust that contaminates the film, and allows the glass to be inspected for chips along the edge that were previously hidden which can lead to cracks when a heat gun is used.

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To cut the side windows, I happened to have tri-five chevy glass for another project we are working on, and I was able to cut my tint patterns on the raw glass. This allows me to get the tint as close to the edges as possible, but know that it wont hang over (on the vertical edges) The top edge varies so wildly from glass mfg to mfg that its not feasible to expect a perfect top edge from another piece of glass; even though its for the same car. The interior trim was also removed to make installing the film a bit easier, which makes the end result cleaner with less contamination.
Film on the side windows installed, and the top edge filed to fit for a perfect edge:

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This car was here for two days (although most of that was waiting for film to dry before re-assembly) but doing so ensured that the car would not have to be taken apart again for touch-ups or a re-do. All tint looks great right after its applied, but imperfections will show up hours later (especially on ceramic or thicker films). And on the topic of imperfections, take a very close look at your glass before you bring it to be tinted. Scratches and scuffs that are hardly visible on clear glass are FAR more obvious with a layer of tint underneath it. Sometimes it is worth it to replace the glass before spending the money to have it tinted.
This car was done in SolarGard Nano-Ceramic 40%. We charged $950 to do all glass except the windshield on this car.
Hopefully this will give some insight on how you can help your tint shop to give the best end result!

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[ULTM8Z]

Had the car out today for about an hour driving around town... 97F outside. A/C was on low the whole time... before the tint, I'd easily have to have to set it to at least the medium speed to be comfortable, especially when the sun is on the driver side bearing down on me.

This stuff works amazingly well...

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Had the car out today for about an hour driving around town... 97F outside. A/C was on low the whole time... before the tint, I'd easily have to have to set it to at least the medium speed to be comfortable, especially when the sun is on the driver side bearing down on me.

This stuff works amazingly well...


:bananna2: Where are you at where it is still 97° outside?!

[ULTM8Z]

Southern California... its typical October weather... very hot and dry