I'm asking this because I recently got burned when I went to have the Mazda RX-8 I bought for my daughter inspected. It has aftermarket tint that, on paper, is legal. But, because the windows already had some tint to them, I guess they came out darker than they can be to pass inspection. I ended up getting around it without removing the tint but I don't want that hassle everytime I go for an inspection.

So, I have 2 questions. Does anyone know what the tint percentage is on the rear windows from the factory? And do you know what comes on the front windows? I'd like to darken my front windows but not too much that it becomes a legal problem. I think the legal tint limit here is 35% with a 2% allowance over the limit. Or it might be 32 or 33 percent with the +-2% allowance.

Also, any thoughts on the front windows being tinted darker but not as dark as the back? Will it look goofy? Has anyone done it? Got pix?

 

I know that our rear windows are 20%.

 

Wow, I knew they were dark, but damn. Talk about limo tint. So, no way to get the front ones even close I guess. Curious if anyone has the fronts tinted darker than stock with the stock tinted rears and has any pix to post?

 

I have the factory tint which is 20% with another aftermarket 15% over that. Then I have just 15% on the front 2 windows.

Here is the back window-


Here are the side windows-

 

yea i have on the back three windows factory with 5% over them, and you cant see inside them, barely if youget right on it. My front are illegal with 15% but eventually going to put 5 on the front and i have an eyebrow that comes down 2 inches that where its supposed to be. I barely see dodges around here with the same tint on front as in back. Doesnt look goofy just normal.

 

Okay guys, by my understanding, we are going the wrong way here. The tint percentage, as I understand it, is not the amount of tint rather it is the amount of light the tint allows through it. So, I need to stay higher than 33 or 35, not lower as would be the case with 15% or even 5. It looks awesome and I'd love to have it but they are pretty harsh these days about running around with windows too dark. Too many LEO's (1 is too many) being shot and killed when approaching a car with dark windows only to find a gun when it gets rolled down.

So, what I'm looking for is anyone that has tinted, but lighter, windows on the front, not darker.

Thanks for the info and pix so far though.

 

i did 3M 20% its an expensive tint but the match is nearly spot on to the rear doors rear glass. its identical outside. inside the fronts are a smidge darker. im hapy with it. i just didnt wanna spend more money retininting over glass that was already tinted plus 20% all around i dont get ****ed with at all

 

I don't know the % but I have the factory tint on all the windows except the windshield of course and I can say it's pretty dark. During the day you have to get up pretty close to see inside and at night you can forget about seeing in there. I haven't had any LEO problems because of tint.

 

I believe most states front windows 20% is legal. Have the tint shop hit the back with a light meter.

 

my state legal is 25%. I have factory tint on back 3 with 2 1/2% over them then 2 1/2% on the front 2 and then 35% on the whole front window cant see in at all