Window Tint Experts

[Walker]

1. What is the best type of film for heat/UV and scratch (child proof) resistance? The top of the line.

2. What color is the tinted glass on the rear doors of an 06? Is it just a basic "smoked" color? Looks a little "bronzish" to me.

3. What % is the rear doors (factory)?

4. Do I have to match the front % to the rear doors % to look right? I know I want 5% on the rear window, but I want all the doors to look the same.

5. Is ordering (by mail) "pre-cut" film worth it rather than cutting by hand for avoiding screw ups like gaps etc. (aka a bad installer)?



Any other helpful info?



TIA

 

[mlewis73]

1. What is the best type of film for heat/UV and scratch (child proof) resistance? The top of the line.

2. What color is the tinted glass on the rear doors of an 06? Is it just a basic "smoked" color? Looks a little "bronzish" to me.

3. What % is the rear doors (factory)?

4. Do I have to match the front % to the rear doors % to look right? I know I want 5% on the rear window, but I want all the doors to look the same.

5. Is ordering (by mail) "pre-cut" film worth it rather than cutting by hand for avoiding screw ups like gaps etc. (aka a bad installer)?



Any other helpful info?



TIA

Great questions! I want to match my front windows to the back ones, which are tinted from the factory. Looking for the same durability aspects as you.



Won't go anything but pre-cut...





Mike

 

[JRMora]

1. What is the best type of film for heat/UV and scratch (child proof) resistance? The top of the line.

2. What color is the tinted glass on the rear doors of an 06? Is it just a basic "smoked" color? Looks a little "bronzish" to me.

3. What % is the rear doors (factory)?

4. Do I have to match the front % to the rear doors % to look right? I know I want 5% on the rear window, but I want all the doors to look the same.

5. Is ordering (by mail) "pre-cut" film worth it rather than cutting by hand for avoiding screw ups like gaps etc. (aka a bad installer)?



Any other helpful info?



TIA

Just my two cents worth,



I live in the desert Southwest and have tinted or had tiinted all my cars in the last 20 years. I have never been able to find a quality film as good as the professionals get. I have always used Lumar or 3M films on my cars. They seem to have the best scratch resistance.



Not every film is completely scratch free. Bought my wife a new car recently and had the windows tinted (35%/20%) and we have had scratching problems on all four windows. Apparently, on some new cars the tolerences are getting so tight that the films are getting scratched, even with good clean felt strips installed. It has been a running battle now for 6 months to get it corrected (the film manufacturer, tint dealer, car dealer and car manufacturer all acknowledge there is a problem, but everyone is pointing the finger at everyone else!) Never had a problem with the Ram, though.



I have 35% (front)/20% (rear) films on my truck. That's the darkest legal film here in my town. Too much darker and it's hard to see out at night (I'm getting older and my night vision is worsening). It looks fine on my truck and my back door windows perfectly match the rear window (Dodge being Dodge, my truck came with tinted rear door windows and a clear back window!). I chose a smoke color to match the factory tint.



I have small kids, and the film has held up very well. These films have never faded or turned "purple" on me, either.



Bottom line, talk to people in your area who have had their windows done and pay a professional to do it. I got 3 windows doneboth fron doors and the rear) for $100 installed with quality lifetime lumar film and couldn't be happier.



Juan

 

[Yooper1]

I have a 06 mega cab two weeks old and had 3M film put on. I is the Best! I had the front windows do at 20%. Match the factory windows in the back to the "T". Read on line, 3M has the best lasting and protection.

 

[Graphic man]

I have a 06 mega cab two weeks old and had 3M film put on. I is the Best! I had the front windows do at 20%. Match the factory windows in the back to the "T". Read on line, 3M has the best lasting and protection.

i agree 3m makes some good stuff.



Mike, did you sell your 2nd gen?





Scott

 

[Yooper1]

Hey Scott!

No, still have the twin truck. . Might sell it, but I really don't have too.

How have you been?

Mike

 

[Walker]

Ok. 3M it is. I've looked at the 3M site and they have 4 choices of film for the automotive tint. Looks like the 'Black Chrome' is the best. Sound right? Now, where can I find it? I'd still like to get the machine cut online somewhere and have it installed here. Found a couple of tint kit sites but they don't say what type of film they use. Just says "professional grade" blah blah.

 

[COBRAJET]

3M here in Texas. I have never had an issue with it. A quality tinter will warranty his work. A lot of them have the programs and tint cutter on site now. The guy I have used for years just invested in one.



Here in Texas anything is legal on the back doors or rear window with 30% being the darkest allowed on the front. I have always tinted mine limo over factory on the back window and doors. The new power rears help with backing at night. I usually just look back there before getting in the truck. The fronts have been 13-17... . illegal but not noticeable because they are lighter than the back. I have been pulled over once in over 15 years... down in the deep valley where the DPS officer just wanted to see what was going on... no ticket. Helps with the AC big time here in Texas.

 

[RoryTek]

My guy uses Johnson films and never had a problem with it.
Tint Doctor of Victorville,Ca

 

[SKing]

I have formula one window film on all my trucks. I have had 3M, Lumar, Madico, and Solar Pro on other trucks and none of them block the heat like the formula one film will. Its about 3 times the cost of other films and only a few high-end tint shops are able to instal it. I also live in Texas and spend allot of time on the road in deep south and the film works like no other I have had on any other truck.