20% vs. 35% Window Tint

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:59 pm

I have decided that it's finally time to tint my KJ's windows! I am tired of pulling up to stoplights and having people peer right in. It would also be nice to better hide my audio system and other goodies in my interior. Obviously, I always have the cargo area security cover pulled out in the back. On my Acura, I have 20% all round (minus the windshield) with 5% eyebrow and sunroof. Here's what she looks like with the tint installed (pictured in winter mode with OEM wheels/suspension/brakes installed):

The interior consist of parchment leather and taffeta white fiberglass. Even with my very light interior, the windows still look very dark! I have had the tint installed for going on two years now. Luckily, I have had no trouble with the police for the tint [knock on wood]. I think a big contributing factor is that every time I see a cop, I instantly roll down my windows since that is their pet peeve with window tint - not being able to see you. I have been pulled over with the tint installed, and the officer didn't even mention anything about it!

As you can assume, I feel naked when I drive my Jeep! Thus, I am going to tint my windows before the snow comes. I am debating on whether to go with 20% all around (minus the windshield) with 5% eyebrow OR 35% all around (minus the windshield) with 5% eyebrow. What would you guys do? Keep in mind that my KJ has the Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat with Medium Slate Gray interior. Also, I live in Minnesota and the state tint law is only 50% front and rear with no tint on the windshield; that means I can't even have an eyebrow :furious:

My other concern is that in the Winter, I won't be rolling down my windows every time I see a cop like I do in the Summer. What tint film do you guys recommend? I do not want a reflective looking tint. I have the Escort Passport 9500ix GPS Enabled Radar Detector and do not want my tint to interfere with it's performance of identifying alerts. I made sure the tint on my Acura would not interfere, but I don't remember what kind of film was installed since it was so long ago; I also no longer talk to the guy who installed it. Does the KJ come from the factory with any tint percentage? I know some vehicles come with about 3%-9% tint straight from the factory. Thanks in advance for your help!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:04 pm

mine came factory dark as legally permitted everywhere except the driver/pass front windows which were a grade lighter, and they got tinted to 35%? No eyebrow here, never been fond of them but I get their purpose

I can't get it tint inspected on a cloudy day or it won't pass, i have to clean the windows and make sure to get my inspection on a bright day front windows are within a % or so being illegal in NC

so.. i say dark as your state legally permits but don't get it so close that it's a pain to get inspected if your state does tint inspections

as for MN's 50%

is your vehicle registered to MN?

You'd have to check some legalities, I believe SUV's like the KJ are considered station wagons and most states allow limo tint behind the drivers windows on station wagons. Of course this information dates back to when I had a bronco II, titles on bronco II's said "Station Wagon", and NC inspectors do not check tint behind drivers windows on my KJ so I'm assuming it's classified as the same type vehicle for tint purposes

I'd go talk to an minn inspector to be honest, KJ's get classified differently for tint purposes than say a passenger car

LibertyGuy · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:25 pm

I have 20% on my 2 front windows. The 5% eyebrow is corny but if you really want it go for it. The 20% looks perfect and it matches the rear factory exact. It's not worth doing any less like 30% or 35%.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:41 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

mine came factory dark as legally permitted everywhere except the driver/pass front windows which were a grade lighter, and they got tinted to 35%? No eyebrow here, never been fond of them but I get their purpose

I can't get it tint inspected on a cloudy day or it won't pass, i have to clean the windows and make sure to get my inspection on a bright day front windows are within a % or so being illegal in NC

so.. i say dark as your state legally permits but don't get it so close that it's a pain to get inspected if your state does tint inspections

as for MN's 50%

is your vehicle registered to MN?

You'd have to check some legalities, I believe SUV's like the KJ are considered station wagons and most states allow limo tint behind the drivers windows on station wagons. Of course this information dates back to when I had a bronco II, titles on bronco II's said "Station Wagon", and NC inspectors do not check tint behind drivers windows on my KJ so I'm assuming it's classified as the same type vehicle for tint purposes

I'd go talk to an minn inspector to be honest, KJ's get classified differently for tint purposes than say a passenger car

Yes, both of my vehicles are registered to MN. I have never heard of states doing tint inspections, unless you are referring to when cops pull you over and do the test.

Are you getting your KJ inspected so if you get pulled over, you can show the officer the inspection notification stating that you have legal tint? How would one go about contacting an inspector from their state?

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:48 pm

LibertyGuy wrote:

I have 20% on my 2 front windows. The 5% eyebrow is corny but if you really want it go for it. The 20% looks perfect and it matches the rear factory exact. It's not worth doing any less like 30% or 35%.

darn, your KJ came with 20% tint on the back!? Is that common? Mine came with no tint, unless there's some unnoticeable percentage on it that came from the factory. That's my concern, I don't want to drop the money and be unhappy with the results. Which with 35%, I have a feeling that it might be too light since I am used to 20%. I want to do the eyebrow with 5% so I don't have to look at the factory blue tint anymore.

LibertyGuy · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:09 pm

Carmodifier wrote:

LibertyGuy wrote:

I have 20% on my 2 front windows. The 5% eyebrow is corny but if you really want it go for it. The 20% looks perfect and it matches the rear factory exact. It's not worth doing any less like 30% or 35%.

darn, your KJ came with 20% tint on the back!? Is that common? Mine came with no tint, unless there's some unnoticeable percentage on it that came from the factory. That's my concern, I don't want to drop the money and be unhappy with the results. Which with 35%, I have a feeling that it might be too light since I am used to 20%. I want to do the eyebrow with 5% so I don't have to look at the factory blue tint anymore.

Yes, the factory tint is 20%. I've seen some Liberties with no tint which are usually base models. If you have the base model you have no tint at all. 35% is a joke. I used to have it on my first car and hated it. It was a waste of money. You will be happy with 20%. You can even probably do the eyebrow 20% as well so you get a perfect match.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:03 pm

to answer the tint inspection question

some states, NC for one, require non-stock tint to be tested for % at the time of yearly inspections as part of the state inspection

so if the inspector recognizes that you have non-stock tint, they'll put the gun to the window and test it, if it fails, inspection fails

every state does vehicle inspections a bit differently

I suppose if you were borderline being out of regs on tint, and your state doesn't do these type inspections, you could have the tint tested and get a print out and stick it with your registration in case you did get pulled over for tint you have proof that it is indeed not out of regulation

if your state doesn't do such inspections, yet still states that it has to be 50% - that's probably why the cops run hound people about tint

in states where window tint is a part of the yearly inspection in order to get a window sticker, or plate sticker depending on how they do it, cops generally don't give a rats about your tint, considering you won't get a new sticker if it's recently been installed, and you'll be paying removal and reinstall of tint every year just to get a sticker

here, to find an inspector, you just go to a NC State Inspection station, or any other certified inspectors shop

bmrrwolfe · **Joined:** Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:24 pm **Posts:** 132

I have a KJ that came with no tint and went with 50% front with 20% rear, since OH law is 50% front.
I think I could go with 35% front and get away with it, which I think would be the best combo with no eyebrow.
So 35% front 20% and no eyebrow if I could do it over again. or if you could do a 15% for a rear but thats not easy to find.

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 12:33 am

you all need to move to OKLAHOMA where we do not have inspections... ever!

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:41 am

LibertyGuy wrote:

I have 20% on my 2 front windows. The 5% eyebrow is corny but if you really want it go for it. The 20% looks perfect and it matches the rear factory exact. It's not worth doing any less like 30% or 35%.

Exactly. The factory tint is 15-20%. I got 17% tint put on my two front doors, and now they are an exact match for the rest of the Jeep.

And, the strip across the windshield is stupid. Avoid that like the plague.

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:45 am

I lived in MN for 26 years of my life, 10 of those as driving years. Now in WI for 6 years, similar rules. I've had two cars with tint in MN, I don't remember the specific percentage, but in small towns I got hassled all the time (It was REALLY dark), they never did anything other than threaten to give me a ticket if I didn't remove it. Large cities like MSP, ST.Paul not an issue at all.

However, there are state inspection buildings for vehicles, one is in St. Paul, I had to get a car inspected there and it was a little bit of a pain, but I got through it. I was inspecting for VIN as I had a prior salvage vehicle that had been restored, they sent me back and forth between my local police (1 1/2 hours away from the TC) and the State inspection site. I had to trailer the car back an forth a couple times til it was all straightened out.

Personally if you don't want to be hassled, I'd go with the 20% and no eyebrow if eyebrows are illegal, you're just asking to get pulled over. Don't give them a reason to pull you over.

Personally I think the factory tint (which I believe is called security glass in the spec sheet) is dark enough, but if you want more, that's your decision.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:29 pm

I have 50% front and 5% rear... just sayin'

67Customs · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:41 pm

I put Llumar tint on my front two windows. I went with 15%. It matches perfectly with the factory tint.

I went with 35% on my Town & Country front windows. Looks pretty good with the factory rear.

So, either way, it will look good.

Zack A · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:28 pm

Mine came with 20% in the rear windows...front I got tinted at 20%. Inspection time I just roll the front windows down and pull the wiring harness out of the window buttons. :-)r

That way they can't roll them up to check

-Zack

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

in texas, i went with 35% front, and 5% on rest of windows....i have 3 kids under 2 (set of twins) my uncle owns a well known shop in houston area, he did mine for me.

jimkelly · **Posted:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:03 pm

Mine came with 20% in the rear so right after the vehicle purchase it went directly to the tint shop to have 20% installed in the front with a 5% eyebrow.

Don't waste your money on 35% tint it's too light and you won't be happy with it. 20% you can still see in the vehicle (law enforcement) and more importantly you can see out at night. On some occassions I do need to role down the front windows to get a better view at night though.

As far as the eyebrow is concerned. I only went down to the AS1 line on the front windshield(the same size width as the aftermarket front windshield tint with graphics you can buy at Pepboys and Autozone). It does not obstruct my view yet hides my CB (which is mounted on the roof) and my EZ Pass.

I would'nt do a tuner style front eyebrow though that would definately not look good.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:29 pm

Thanks guys for all the input so far. My KJ came with no tint. Thus, I think I am going to go with 20% all around (minus the windshield) with a thin 5% eyebrow to cover the factory blue tint strip. I am going to get my windows tinted as soon as I install my Steiger Performance Power Window Regulator Repair Kit. Yes, I have joined that unfortunate club

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

to answer the tint inspection question

some states, NC for one, require non-stock tint to be tested for % at the time of yearly inspections as part of the state inspection

so if the inspector recognizes that you have non-stock tint, they'll put the gun to the window and test it, if it fails, inspection fails

every state does vehicle inspections a bit differently

I suppose if you were borderline being out of regs on tint, and your state doesn't do these type inspections, you could have the tint tested and get a print out and stick it with your registration in case you did get pulled over for tint you have proof that it is indeed not out of regulation

if your state doesn't do such inspections, yet still states that it has to be 50% - that's probably why the cops run hound people about tint

in states where window tint is a part of the yearly inspection in order to get a window sticker, or plate sticker depending on how they do it, cops generally don't give a rats about your tint, considering you won't get a new sticker if it's recently been installed, and you'll be paying removal and reinstall of tint every year just to get a sticker

here, to find an inspector, you just go to a NC State Inspection station, or any other certified inspectors shop

In MN, you have to renew (buy) license plate tabs every year. In order to receive new tabs, no inspection is required. The only stipulation is that you have to pay with cash or check only, no plastic. Every year when I go to my local DMV to renew my tabs, I always have to travel back home to get my checkbook since I always use plastic to buy things (help build my credit) and never carry my checkbook with me :furious:

jslibby · **Posted:** Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:53 pm

darkest legal or no tint at all.
if you have a four door yo can get 5% minuse rear windshield front windows and front windshield: which have to stay at 25%

florida law

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:15 am

How do you guys feel about adding side window deflectors [http://tiny.cc/tk76p]? I am considering purchasing a dark tint front and rear set. Do you guys like the look of them? To those who have them installed, do they actually make a difference?

jimkelly · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:20 pm

Carmodifier wrote:

How do you guys feel about adding side window deflectors [http://tiny.cc/tk76p]? I am considering purchasing a dark tint front and rear set. Do you guys like the look of them? To those who have them installed, do they actually make a difference?

With the history of window regulator problems on the KJ I would stay away with anything that goes in the track, besides the back windows look silly with only a partial deflector. I have the AVS adhesive type. In fact on my last four cars before the Jeep I also had them. Always one of my first mods. Never had a problem with the adhesive, it's all in the surface prep. On one vehicle I did have the track type and did not like them. They moved, made the window push in just alittle when it hit the deflector, froze together in the winter with ice and snow.

As far as distance the window can be rolled down (without getting wet) between the in track and the adhesive ones is minimal. My vote is for adhesive type

Yes they do make a difference, as you can have your windows open in inclimate weather without getting wet.

20% vs. 35% Window Tint

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