Have you ever wondered what makes a car look fancy? Is it the brand sign on the hood of a vehicle that exceeds its level of coolness?
Maybe the color of the metal surface or even the shape gives it the look of money. Those things matter, but not as much as tinted windows.
When you look at any car and cannot see its inside, you become fascinated by its level of stylishness.
Summary
The most common types of car window tint are 20% and 30%. Dyed car window tints are the most common type of material used and they’re the best for the car because of a mixture of price and other factors.
Make sure to avoid window tints that are darker than 32% as they’re likely illegal in the state that you live in.
In this article, we’ll also go through the following topics:
- The different manufacturers
- The pros & cons
Table of Contents
Best window tint brands for cars
MotoShield Pro
If you want to update your vehicle with a new tint, there are many brands to choose from. One of the best options on the market is the MotoShield Pro. They offer a fully equipped kit with films for all your car windows.
If you need to change the tint on one window, there is an option to buy it separately from the kit. Ceramic window tint is one of MotoShield Pro’s best products. You can choose an appropriate percentage ranging from 5% to 75%.
| Brand | MotoShield |
| Size | 36in x 50ft |
| Assembled in | USA |
| Heat rejection | 99% |
Pros
- The heat difference is significant when you use this product.
- We had a small issue, and customer support was great.
- Installing it worked really well.
- This product is way above your average product out there.
Cons
- It’s a premium product with a corresponding price tag.
- We wish they would put the tint percentage on the rolls.
Mkbrother
If you want a durable window tint, Mkbrother is the right choice. This brand also guarantees a 99% UV rejection rate.
If you decide to use professional help with installation, Mkbrother is a good choice because their film is mostly uncut to window shapes. It will not cause much trouble for technicians to do it. However, the brand also offers pre-cut products.
| Brand | MKBROTHER |
| Color | Charcoal |
| Installation Type | Peel and Stick |
| Item Weight | 2.29 pounds |
| Size | 24in x 50Ft |
Pros
- It’s a great product if you don’t want to spend several hundred dollars.
- It’s reasonably easy to install.
- It’s better than the products you’ll find at AutoZone.
Cons
- It’s not the same quality as the previous product.
If you don’t want any trouble with tinting, films from Lexen are for you. They provide pre-cut options at relatively low prices. Depending on what will suit your car best, you can also choose a 5%, 15%, 35%, or 50% tint.
Best types
As it is clear by now why aftermarket options are a popular and advantageous choice, it is necessary to look at the options on the market.
Here are some of the options we’ll take a look at.
- Dyed
- Metalized
- Hybrid
- Ceramic
- Carbon
1. Dyed
Dyed tints are the most common ones. Car owners are often attracted to its low price compared to the other alternatives.
As is often the case, a low price does not imply durability or high quality. They have an alluring aesthetic appearance, but they will lose their attractiveness after some time. You’ll have to change them to new ones when they fade.
Dyed window tints are made of layered colored plastic. They can have different levels of transparency, but even the darkest ones do not guarantee high protection against UV. Compared to other types, they are less resistant to mechanical damage.
If you care more about low price and aesthetic value, this type is for you. However, be prepared to change it once in a while.
2. Metalized
The clue to how this type works lies within the name. Metalized window tints have metallic fragments within themselves. Those fragments allow them to effectively arrest UV rays and protect the car from mechanical damage.
These advantages do not come for free. Metalized films cost quite a deal. At the same time, they’ll last longer than other alternatives. Remember that metallic fragments within these tints can also block the GPS and radio signals. If you’re a traveler, you’d better consider different options for your vehicle.
3. Hybrid
If there are two incomplete variants, why not combine them into one greater product? A hybrid window tint is between a dyed and a metalized one. It effectively protects against UV rays and, at the same time, looks as luxurious as dyed film.
It is also resistant to scratches and other mechanical damage. The downside of hybrid tires is their expensiveness. The issue of signal interference is also not resolved.
Ceramic vs. Carbon tints
The most energy-efficient types of window films are carbon and ceramic tints. The first ones consist of carbon fragments that effectively protect not only from UV rays but also from heat.
While having carbon films in your car, you’ll console yourself both in summer and winter at the same time. That is because carbon tints prevent the heat from coming in or out equally.
Ceramic tints will not cause any signal loss for your GPS or radio. They are made of ceramic fragments, the most efficient protection from sun glare.
You’ll never experience dissatisfaction while having these tints at your disposition. The only downside to ceramic tiles is that they cost the most of the options listed above.
Both ceramic and carbon films are of high quality and do their protective tasks better than any other type. They also have an aesthetically pleasing look.
However, ceramic ones have the best grades in comparison to other alternatives. If money is not an issue, you can base your decision on the best product on the market.
Colors
Not only are there different types of transparency, but you can also choose between different variants of color. The classic colors for window films are black and gray.
The first one will give the windows a stylish look, while the second will mingle with the color so that it will be almost invisible.
You can also choose a charcoal color, which has the same ability to blend in with natural glass color. Still, it will make your car appear richer and more fancy because of the slight shade of brown. The last two colors you can get are gold and bronze.
The bronze is used more often in cheaper cars, whereas the cold one looks more luxurious and expensive. Before you decide which one you want for your vehicle’s glass, see what the laws are in your state.
Different percentages
Each tint percentage provides different levels of VLT (visible light transmission). The lower the percentage is, the less light is transmitted through window glass. A car with 5% VLT has darker tints and lets in less light than a car with 15% VNL.
Most vehicles have about 15% of window tint inserted into the glass by the manufacturers.
It means that your car windows can block about 85% of visible light before aftermarket film. The result is not bad, but you can still prove your car’s VNL abilities by applying additional film to the windows.
