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need help deciding on window tint..
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:23 am
by waveresponder
ok so what is everyones experiance been so far...i went to the two closes places and they each were around $200 to do the "responder"....one shop offers only 35% and 20% or lower...the other offers only 22% and 32%...im leaning towards 32%..here in pa its recomended that you stay at least at 25-30% so you dont draw police even though legally the law states as long as you can view the interior you cannot recieve a citation for tint....id appreciate if everyone that has tint could post pics of their vibe or even matrix..prefer those that have closer to 35%...but all are welcome...thanks ahead of time everyone that responds to this!
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:29 am
by northvibe
MN is 50 , but I know BC did i think 35 on passanger and rear, 35 all around looks nice though.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (waveresponder)
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:42 am
by bull77
Quote, originally posted by waveresponder »id appreciate if everyone that has tint could post pics of their vibe.I have 20% on the Vibe - If I could do it again I'd go darker (10% - 15%). The first pic is in bright sun while the second is a little cloudy. I love having the tint, but in the bright sun I'd prefer to have it darker all around. It cost me $275
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:35 pm
by chevelle_lover
I have 20% and I really like it. $200 is about the price that I think that the boss paid for the tint. Since it was a birthday present I do not know the exact cost. Since I do not have a camera then you will have to imagine a Moonstone Vibe with tint dark enough that you cannot see into it.
Re: (chevelle_lover)
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:41 pm
by Kamikaze
35% front20% rears
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:12 am
by WaveAction
you've seen my pics..i got 20%..i guess our tint is different then down south...bull says 20% and im 20% too..and mines like 3x darker
Re: (WaveAction)
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:21 am
by bull77
Quote, originally posted by WaveAction »..i guess our tint is different then down south...bull says 20% and im 20% too..and mines like 3x darkerMaybe, but mine looks darker when it's not so bright. The first pic was a cloudless day in Montreal.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (waveresponder)
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:10 am
by VivaVibe
Legal in FL is 30% front 15% rear. However, as in your case, the shop only offers 35 or 20. I got the 35% all around. But, the car had a light factory tint already, so I figure it is a net of 32 or 30% or there about. I like this amount. Cost was $160 plus tax. Keep in mind that the darker the tint the more difficult it will be for you to see out at night.May be too many reflections to tell much.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (VivaVibe)
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:33 am
by ColonelPanic
Quote, originally posted by VivaVibe » Keep in mind that the darker the tint the more difficult it will be for you to see out at night.And that is exactly why I'll never go with 20% again, opted for that once in my rebelious years and regretted it each night. Mine had Llumar brand 35% on it, I always thought it was a nice balance between privacy and visibility...
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:47 am
by ajflan
I have 35 up front, 20 in back. Its still hard to see at night sometimes.
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:11 am
by wyatt89
i have 35% front and 20% back and its quite nice because you can still use your side mirrors when its getting a bit dim out and your back is still dark enough that you dont need to filp your rearview at night...i love my tints...
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (waveresponder)
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:11 am
by fredfreedom
Hi Waveresponder,Here in Quebec we have the right of 70% in the front and no limit for back windows, so I put 50% in the front to be OK with cops! and 20% in my back windows. I have chosen the Platinium Llumar paper, because it's look a little bit more mirror but it reflect's more UV rays and heating than regular paper, andd there's a really big diffrence in heat reflection, I put my A/C at low setting to keep my car cool in summer.Here's some pics of my car:
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:16 am
by WaveAction
like the tint man in ontario i think the mirror type tints are illegal..dont quote me..specially the front windows
Re: (WaveAction)
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:20 am
by fredfreedom
they have a mirror look like but they are not mirror. I know what you're talking about and it's also illegal in Quebec. This is not what I have!
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:25 am
by WaveAction
well im saying its illegal on the fronts..cause it doesnt show the drivers face or anything like that..i know it aint actually a mirror..just an affect that makes it looks like one
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:05 am
by coldmm803
theres some pics in my garage of mine, i have 35%. how dark they look depends on the light and the angle.
http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=25949
Re: (coldmm803)
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:07 am
by BlueCrush
I have 35% all around. Click on my sig to see the pics in my garage.
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:36 pm
by vinny.mca
I have 20 all around, with 35 in the windshield. Perfect combiniation in my opinion. Doesn't obstruct your view at night, but dark enough where people can't see in, unless they dive their nose to the window.

Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (waveresponder)
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:52 am
by murphsouth
window tinting is both egotistical and dangerous. Other drivers can't see through tinting so the 3rd vehicle (bicycles and motorcycles in particular) are invisible. For you, the visibility on a vibe is not great to begin with so why make it worse.Your vehicle is not a pair of sunglasses. It's just a ride.I hope they ban all tinting because a huge SUV with tinting is hideous to see around/through and presents a hazzard.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (murphsouth)
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:30 am
by 02csnow
Quote, originally posted by murphsouth »window tinting is both egotistical and dangerous. Other drivers can't see through tinting so the 3rd vehicle (bicycles and motorcycles in particular) are invisible. For you, the visibility on a vibe is not great to begin with so why make it worse.Your vehicle is not a pair of sunglasses. It's just a ride.I hope they ban all tinting because a huge SUV with tinting is hideous to see around/through and presents a hazzard. Who are you?With saying other drivers cant see through tinting, why are they even looking. Saying the car is not a pair of sunglasses, why do people without tint wear sunglasses, while the ones with tint don't have to wear sunglasses.Some people get tint b/c it adds a new look to their car, some get it b/c they don't want others looking in their car, and some even get it b/c they have prescriptions form their eye doctors and they feel the tint will help out while driving.Tint serves many purposes. Mostly sun glare in the car and heating in the car.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (02csnow)
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:57 am
by lovemyraffe
02csnow, I completely agree with you. It is not a hazard when done properly. That is why there are laws in place about how dark you can tint. As an avid cyclist and motorcyclist, I have never heard of a fellow cyclist/motorcyclist being hit because the driver of the vehicle could not see due to tinting on the vehicle in front of them. As an optician I do see many reason to tint your windows. Although it will never replace a good pair of sunglasses, tinting is the next best thing. My 05 Vibe is not tinted yet (still kinda new to me and haven't made it that far) but will be in the near future.I say poo-poo to all who are against any tinting.
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:59 am
by WaveAction
and whats sad about it all..is tinting is cheaper then apair of sunglasses..depending on the make of course, and i dont see any problems with tinting, i've tinted both my cars now and i can see perfectly find regardless of weather or darkness.i guess if you got tint, and cant see out of them, either you should get it taken off or stay away from a car
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:02 am
by wyatt89
im personally glad i have 20% in the back so people dont decide they want to jack **** out of the back of my car...visibility really isnt an issue...i have 35% in the front and i can see just fine out the side and looking into my sideviews...we have friggin bright reverse lights so i can even see stuff out of my rear view at night...what the hell is he talking about?oh and last time i checked, my vibe has amazing visibility compared to my ford f150 extended cab with a topper on it (i have about a 1' window out the back)
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:14 pm
by yotatrix
35 here on the rear 5 windows it's cool, but I plan on tinting fronts too.
Re: need help deciding on window tint.. (waveresponder)
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:32 am
by waveresponder
ok sooo i set up an appointment for last saturday..but cancelled it they wanted 285$....now i set up an appointment at another place for this thursday...$230.....i think im going to get...35 the front two side windows...no tint on the windshield..and 20 on the rear 5......
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:04 pm
by p8md
Just my opinion, but I think you should stick with one tint % on the sides (I'm going with 20% all around). You can definitely tell a difference from front to back when looking at the car from the side and it doesn't look uniform. If the law requires 35% on the front sides then do the front and back 35% and do the hatch 20%. Opinions are like buttholes... everyone has them! (PG version)
Re: (p8md)
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:33 am
by waveresponder
im now thinking of doing the hatch 20, the rear two little windows 20 and the remaining four other main windows at 35....whats everyones opinions on this...
Re: (waveresponder)
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:42 am
by bull77
if you can, go 20% on the sides with 15% on the rear I think you might end up regretting not going darker if you go with %35 - it's not exactly cheap to get it done over again
Re: (waveresponder)
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:30 am
by VivaVibe
20 in the back and 35 on the sides would probably look OK. I ended up doing 35 all around so they would all look the same. Since the car came with factory tint which is about 5 I think, it amounts to a 30% job. I'm satisfied with it and I'm in Florida. Just be sure whatever you do is legal for your area. Otherwise, you'll end up paying a fine AND paying to have it redone.
Re: (VivaVibe)
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:16 am
by waveresponder
the tint jobs done!....ill have to post some pics sooon....
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:00 pm
by WaveAction
where the heck are these pics..man if u get the yellow foglight covers..ur definitly a twin of mine
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:02 am
by northvibe
hey not to hijack, but didnt want to make a total new thread.What are good tint brands? One shop up here in duluth has protectgard, the one I was thinking in the cities still has to get back to me. I was thinking 35% all around....
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:48 am
by WaveAction
up here we got a company called solar...something..they're goodi forget the name..probably solarguard or..ya
Re: (WaveAction)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:49 am
by kevera
I might bite the bullet and get the Vibe done this weekend.Since I've never tinted any of my vehicles.How does it work,the lower the number the darker the tint,right.
Re: (kevera)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:51 am
by VforVIBE
Quote, originally posted by kevera »I might bite the bullet and get the Vibe done this weekend.Since I've never tinted any of my vehicles.How does it work,the lower the number the darker the tint,right. right, but the tint laws are different in different places.
Re: (VforVIBE)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:57 am
by kevera
I don't want the darkest tint.The wife is worried she won't be able to see with the tint.So,I was just wondering how the numbering worked.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:02 am
by northvibe
MN is 50% but thats like..no tint, so I was thinking between 35-50% tint. Bluecrush has 35% and it looks good, not to dark. I just worry at night the rear window may be too dark.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:16 am
by northvibe
soo the place in the cities say they use Global Window Films. I've never heard of that brand. where are all the tinted peoples input?
Re: (northvibe)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:18 am
by VforVIBE
Quote, originally posted by northvibe »I just worry at night the rear window may be too dark.I have 15% all around, It seems dark at first, but you get use to it.
Re: (northvibe)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:18 am
by Kamikaze
Parnell, I've got 35 up front 20 in the back... 20 isn't too dark in the back... I actually wish I would have gone a little darker on the back window.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:35 am
by northvibe
brent email me pics of your vibe with tint
Re: (northvibe)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:29 am
by Blanco_Diablo
Honestly, 35% seemed a bit light to me, I went with 20% all the way around and love it!You can see out just fine and it looks nice too
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:42 pm
by TRDmatrixXR_AWD
On my Matrix, I had 20% Front and 10% in back. I loved it. Even if it was hot and sunny outside, the car didn't have trouble keeping the interior nice and cool.
Re: (waveresponder)
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:02 am
by Joli
Hi Responder ! I agree with the 35 front, 20 rear sides and 35 rear hatch. That's the way I'm going. I'm up in East Stroudsburg, PA so I'm under the same rules for tinting as you are.
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:42 am
by rAERRK
ive had 5, 20, and 30 on different cars, and in the future i wont go higher than 20 again.