A Better Tint is a professional residential window tinting service that uses the finest 3M Window Films to provide comfortable living conditions without excessive heat and glare, faded furniture, security, or privacy concerns. They offer superior auto, commercial, and residential window tinting in Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Greater Phoenix areas of Arizona.
Window tinting is a process of applying a thin film to the interior surface of windows to filter sunlight and reduce heat, glare, and Ultraviolet (UV) rays. While typically associated with automotive applications, window tinting is an easy-to-do option for homeowners looking to enhance privacy, filter light, protect furniture, and reduce energy costs.
A Better Tint is a 3M authorized dealer offering a variety of window films and treatments for all budgets. They also offer window treatments, blinds, shutters, and shades for commercial buildings, homes, cars, and boats. Their American-made window tint is backed by a lifetime warranty, and their professional installers are certified.
A Better Tint is an Authorized 3M Prestige Dealer and offers an array of window films and treatments for all budgets. They also offer window treatments, blinds, shutters, and shades.
When choosing between window tinting and window coverings, it is essential to consider factors like cost, durability, and appearance. A Better Tint provides a comprehensive guide to help you choose the best option for your home.
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This article was the best and most informative I’ve seen. I randomly selected it in the pile of choices and now I don’t have to watch another single article. You described and answered all my questions and then some. Great job! Now, if I was even remotely close to Chicago I’d bring in my vehicle! But Cali is a bit of a drive! What caught my eye was the articles feature photo of the temperature gun! Thanks again!
A bit too far away to be a customer of you but this is a great guide, I would have loved this a few years ago when I tried to make sense of all of this. It’s probably a good call out to also mention that tints offering UV protection will also help your car not age as much on the inside, as they won’t have UV rays hitting them and causing wear/fade. As someone who lives in the desert where the Sun is doing it’s best to try and cook you as soon as it’s out, I’d strongly recommend anyone shopping for a car to factor in the cost of good ceramic tint and get it soon, as it will make your car cooler and quicker to cool once it’s been in the sun for a while, as well as making any leather type seating material go from torturous to ok, maybe even nice if it’s hitting the seat back and you have a bad back. Ceramic tints on the windshield have an added benefit of making road trips easier, as you aren’t getting sunburnt from the sun & road reflection. For the team of Chicago Auto Pros, any specific brands that you’d recommend? And also, any special care that we’d need to do on our tints to both keep them clean but not scratch/dissolve them?
Evvironemnt matters a LOT. My 30% tint is absolutely fine in day, could go 5%, in the city with street lighting at night it’s still fine. I live in the country. As soon as I leave town, 30% tint is absolutely black when looking outside from dusk on. I crack my window when turning so I don’t hit a pedestrian. It was a huge mistake, yes I like the look and privacy, but you’ve gotta be able to see while driving… It also mutes all color. The whole world looks like a darker brown/beige bland colorless old movie.
15-25% on the sides and back and 50% windshield and sunroof is the best. If your rear sides and back are stained dark from factory, slap them with 8%0 so the final number stays around 15-20% and you can still see out of it at night. No darker than 50% windshield for comfortable night driving, with 35% being the hard limit. I had something that metered 29% for about a week and felt like I was wearing weak sunglasses at night, so I went back and had my shop rip it for 50% instead. It was positively luxurious on the windshield in the daytime, though. Didn’t even need sunglasses, but with the 50% I’d still choose to put them on during the brightest moments.
They also make dyed film that has a lifetime warranty. Yes, this film will also eventually begin fading but it will most likely outlast the life of the car or at least last longer than how long you will keep the car. 99% of my customers don’t care what happens to the tint in 20 years because they don’t own it anymore. Something else to keep in mind is that tint will not prevent the ambient temperature of the exterior from getting inside, especially if the vehicle is sitting outside. If it’s 95 degrees outside it will be at least 95 degrees (and more) inside. Tip: make sure you tint your glass roof(sunroof). Great article Jason. Nice and clear explanation of tint. 👍
Protect yourself from skin cancer and skin damage by having your car side and rear windows tinted. I got the lightest tint applied to my 2017 Prius Prime when it was new. I am glad I did. No worries about the sun damaging my skin while I am in my car. Side windows normally allow a lot of UVA rays through.
So I just got my window tinted in Las Vegas a month ago at Xpel headquarter now I noticed on my front windshield. There is some kind of ripples at a few place. Also after I clean my window inside and out perfectly it looks like there is some microfiber residue that is in between the glass and the film so they told me that’s not possible and the ripples is my window came like that and amplified the ripples, should I get a second opinion take it to a different shop?
Great article! So my dilemma is, i had 5% regular windshield tint couldn’t see at night so i went with ceramic 20%. So now my issue is that i feel like i can see too much from the inside now compared to what i just had. My question is, if i went to 5% ceramic, will the inside look like the 20% ceramic or it changes drastically? If it changes drastically how would it compare to the 5% regular tint from the inside perspective
So, basically: Types of Window Tint Films: Dyed Film: Least expensive, lasts 2-5 years, may fade, and bubble. Metallized Layer Film: More expensive, includes a reflective layer, helps prevent premature fading, and keeps the car cooler. Carbon and Ceramic Layer Films: Advanced options, block infrared heat effectively, providing better performance and appearance. UV and Infrared Rays: Most films block about 99% of UV rays. Dyed films only block about 20% of infrared rays. Ceramic films can block up to 98% of infrared rays, keeping the car much cooler. Visible Light Transmission (VLT): VLT ranges from 5% (very dark, limo tint) to 50% (much lighter). Chicago Auto Pros offers a variety of VLT percentages (5% to 80%), allowing customers to experience different tint levels in-person. Common Questions Addressed: Windshield Tinting: Yes, it’s possible, commonly done with an 80% VLT for reduced glare. Warranty: Ceramic films come with a lifetime warranty against peeling, fading, or bubbling. Winter Tinting: Yes, it can be done, and it might be the best time due to a less crowded schedule.
Too bad you’re not local. I had my car ceramic tinted and it does work to keep the interior cooler and help the AC work less to coolthe car after sitting. The windshield tinted ting (I went with 80%) messed badly with my auto on lights. They came on way too early and often. So keep that in mind when tinting the windshield. The biggest issue is heat soak from the roof and sunroof. I assume tinting those would improve heat rejection.
My question is that if 70% ceramic film heat resistance is as good as 50 and/or 35. I have SUV that has factory tinted in the rear windows and a few days ago I had 35% tinting for the front windows, 15 over rear factory windows. But the back window is so dark at night, can’t see anything in the rearview mirror, and it’s very difficult to drive so I’m considering to replace it with 70. What I care is UV/heat resistance rather than darkness.
If you tint the front window, how is the registration and/or inspection sticker affected on the tint? Obviously it’s easy to put on a current sticker, but, when your car has a renewal for inspection and/or registration, how easy is it to peel off the current sticker and replace it with a new sticker? curious if tint end up tearing???
Hey there— great article. I checked out the website and see you have great resources so thank you. New Hampshire state law limit on front side window tint I thought was 70% when I looked online. On your website it says 35%, same as the rear side windows. Have the laws changed? Looking for confirmation!
I was diving in those tint, theres not such a thing as 98% block. In the real life theres not such a thing. Everything in paper sounds good. In the practice is not the same. If u are using Ceramic with 45% darkness is not 98%block Plus the example of using those heat lamps does not mimic the full power of emiting IR from the sun.
Question for you U.S folks, if a particular tint is legal in your state and you drive into another state where that tint is not legal, does your vehicle attract a ticket if the police see it or does the fact that the car resides in another state overrule that? Here in the UK the laws are the same no matter where you are, any level of tint is allowed on any glass rear of the front seats, the front sides must pass 70% of light which is pretty much factory glass and the front screen must pass 75% of light so adding tints to any front glass is essentially banned.
Got my windshield tinted recently at a shop near me in TX and with polarized sunglasses I see the “rainbow effect” when the sun shines on it in certain angles. Is there a winshield film that does not have this effect that i can consider or do all the clear films have this rainbow effect when viewed through polarized sunglasses?
Before you get your windows tinted on your vehicle you better make sure how dark do you want your windows 5% no 20% yes 35% yes limo tent no too dark. You can’t see when you’re driving at night too many blind spots real talk. Tint your front windshield we have strict laws in our state. I do not recommend it. Your car will not pass inspection with that tenant window film.
Great article enjoy the straight forward. Interesting i was recently turned down to tint my windshield here in South Florida even with a State issued Exemption. Some companies here will turn you down. Today i got my windshield tinted after replacing a windshield. I always stay with the 15% nano premium and 5% around here in South Florida its a game changer especially on 100+ days you dont feel rhe hear coming in
Does it matter, for side windows compared to front or back windows on tint %? Like could you get away with more on like rear side cargo windows? I’m worried about thieves more than police at this point. Asking because not sure if they still ticket for this kind of stuff like the tint %? But car robberies from seeing what’s in your car are bad now too. Its like a toss up.
What is the percentage for factory tints? Just got my back window broken and replaced it .. need a tint now same as the back side windows.. will now also get front side windows tinted.. 35% for front is best? Don’t want it too dark but don’t want it too light.. it’s been 100 degrees plus for the last several weeks here..
One other thing to mention is not just the darkness, but the hue of the tint. Most people think tint is just shades of gray, but in reality, there are assortments of color which will look dramatically different against the color of your car’s interior and exterior. Also if your back window already has factory tint, color matching it would help get you that “seamless” factory look.
The state I live in has a 35% limit on front driver and passenger side windows. But the state police are allowed to have virtually limo tint on their same windows. They tell us that the 35% tint is for safety, so I asked them if the state police take a safety course on how to see out of those 5% tint windows they are allowed to have. I got a blank stare.
SPOT ON. Im 30 seconds in, and I KNOW my time isn’t going to be wasted. If this article was an essay and the only thing that could go wrong is NOT DELIVERING on what is said to be covered…5 out 5 stars. STANDING OVATION with an almost rabid clapping. I am sure I will cry when I have time to process what is happening in this article. I even THINK I get those accounts of people tearing their cloths off and running around like a lunatic. I want to YELL with excitement. Give me something aromatically rich and exuberating..NO, you have already given me enough. Im not going to be able to get enough sleep for a week. Stay with me here, but I think this article should be shown at those Anonymous meetings. YOU can’t hear me clapping, so YOU are left with this reaction. WELL DONE SIR. WELL DONE. BRA-VO.
Best article on comparing tints. :finger-red-number-one: Sad to say it BUT, Basically the ones that Look good are going to be Illegal in most states. (For quick reference go to 0:45 shows tint ratings.) First 2 aren’t legal ANYWHERE. 20% the 3rd darkest is only legal in New Mexico The 4th 35% Ok for about half the country. A few states Only allow 70% the lightest tint in the article. NY, DC, IA, CA, AK, DE and RI. No Tint allowed at all on the front windows 😩 NJ, VT, NH
I’m telling you right now 5 is crazy especially at night! I made that mistake once ended up changing the two side windows to 20 which was way better at night still dark but I could see enough even people walking around with no lights and bike riders. I kept the back window 5 n my two small rear side windows for privacy and keeping people from seeing what I had in my back set as easy. If I could do it again I’d go 20 all around honestly my rearveiw mirror is useless at night and so is turning my head and looking with my eyes threw the back window
I’m just here to say I highly recommend Sunstoppers as a company. In Florida, window treatments, like sunglasses, are standard requirements. Sunstoppers “Lifetime warranty” means just that. After nine long years in unrelenting subtropical conditions, my rear tint began to bubble. In just a few hours, Sunstoppers honored the warranty and replaced my vehicle’s entire tint free of charge. You just can’t beat that 👍🏽
if you are ever wondering or tempting, go for 60-70% ceramic optical clarity windshield film + 30/35% carbon film all around. Worth every penny for glare control and heat rejections. I tried a variety of tints over various cars (sedan/hatch/suv/minivan), and anything above 50% on side windows is too light, and anything below 50% on windshield is too dark for many driving conditions. You can go for below 30% all around but at that point it’s beyond functional and it goes into an aesthetic realm, which you better know what you are getting into. I’ve seen people doing 30% or below on windshield and it’s undriveable, don’t do that. Lastly, if you’ve got SUV/minivan and not planning on doing any tints in the back windows because of factory “privacy” glass, think twice and apply light ceramic films. The privacy glasses are only adding visibility shade and still let infrared (all the heat) and UVa (bad UV) through. Need a film to block the bad UV and ceramic film for infrared heat rejection. Same thing for EV glass roofs, apply ceramic film or get a cover. Finally, if you ever get pulled over for whatever reasons, just roll down all the windows so that the officer can see inside the car without any obstructions, and you should be good from any tint related issues
Hello- I am curious on if the tints appear lighter when you are looking from the side, because sometimes I see tints and they are dark when I loom directly at them, but when I look from the side they appear lighter. Also, I was wondering what a good tint is to not really be seen much, I ride around in a 2009 Porsche Panamera and people stare at it alot, I currently have a 80% tint on it and its wrapped in a lime green color and I want My cars color to be brighter than the tint, I was thinking of putting some really dark window tint like maybe a 20-40% tint because I usually drive with the windows rolled down.
What a great article. Thank you! If the glass from factory comes shaded or tinted ans the glass is rated at 70, is it true or untrue, that whatever values tint I put on (35 or 50) will read darker than its number because of the glass not being clear but shaded. So .7 x .35 = .24. In your experience does that hold up or no? A 35 or 55 tint will remain looking as you have demonstrated here? Thank you!
A few things, tinting one window will give you a false perception of the tint. Looking through one window in with all the other windows clear will seem brighter than if all the windows were ti Ted, so each tint percentage will look darker and the inside view harder to see when viewed from the outside. Most cars have some tint in them today. Let’s say it’s 20% as an example. Let’s also say you state legal limit is 35%. If you put 35% tint, you are technically illegal. Why? Be uzse the gun that measures your light transmission will read the 35% film AND the the factory 20%, so you’re actually sitting at 55% tint. Just food for thought….