Everything You Need to Know About Window Tinting
It's increasingly rare in life to come across things that are both beautiful and functional. Among the best examples of beauty and practicality are what we find on every road in America. At their core, our vehicles are designed to serve a purpose that shifts around the different stages of our lives. Whether you're a new parent looking who just purchased their third-row SUV or a young college graduate who is looking to customize that "made it" car; our vehicles ultimately become a reflection of who we are and why we live our lives to the fullest.
Whether you're an automotive enthusiast or chauffeuring children in your three-row SUV, window tint is one of the most effective ways to enhance the beauty of your vehicle while also providing substantial health and safety benefits. Tinting your vehicle's windows is about more than just looking sharp. Due to the wide variety of poor information out there, you may be confused as to whether window tint is the right move for you. Luckily, we have you covered! We're going to explain everything you need to know about window tinting to help you make the best decision for you and your vehicle:
Table of Contents
The Danger of UV Rays
All of the energy that reaches our planet falls somewhere on the Electro-Magnetic Spectrum which includes visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared, radio waves, X-rays, and gamma rays. Ultraviolet (UV) light is not only the main culprit for nasty sunburns, but is the primary cause of skin cancer in humans.
UV radiation is broken into three groups: UVA, UVB, UVC. According to the University of Utah, if the sun is shining on your skin through your vehicle's windows, you are being exposed to potentially dangerous UV rays. While your windshield is legally required to block UVA and UVB rays, there is no mandate on blocking these rays coming in through the other windows in your vehicle.
Quality window tint will block 99.9% of UV rays from entering your vehicle. This approach is even recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as part of a comprehensive skincare routine.
Infrared Heat = Hot Interiors
Most (if not all) of us have had the pleasure of getting into our vehicle on a sweltering summer day, only to be blasted by the scorching heat of a thousand suns. You know the drill - you immediately turn the vehicle on as fast as possible you can blast your air conditioner in hopes of getting some comfort. The heat radiating in your vehicle on a sunny day is due to the effects of infrared radiation that enters through your vehicle's windows and is then trapped within your interior.
In order to reduce this problem, there are different types of film (including ceramic film) that include infrared rejection (IR) properties. To reflect infrared heat, high-performance window films are designed with a variety of materials, like nano-ceramic coatings, that are specifically designed to block infrared waves while still providing clarity and style.
Shattered Glass in Accidents
One of the biggest advantages of the last 50 years is the adoption of automotive safety glass. Modern automotive glass is designed to minimize danger to its occupants by fracturing into tiny pieces rather than large, sharp shards of glass. Even though these tiny pieces of glass pose a lesser risk for injury, they can still cause lacerations and embedding.
While tinted windows do not prevent the auto glass from shattering, professionally applied high-quality window tint can minimize the effect of harmful glass being dispersed by containing the shattered pieces on the adhesive surface of the tint. This is an incredibly valuable safety benefit to both drivers and passengers.
Does Darker Tint Mean More Protection?
While it seems logical to assume that darker window tint provides more UV and infrared protection, this isn't necessarily true. Window tint is designed to block both visual and invisible light. It's the visual light that is most affected by a darker tint. The challenge with darker tint is that they block lighting coming in so well that the low light levels at night can make seeing a challenge for drivers.
As window tint technology has progressed, manufacturers have developed ways to maintain an effective product while not resorting to darker shades of tint. In fact, there are completely clear versions of window tint that block UV and infrared rays - these are incredibly popular for windshields and residential/commercial windows. Dark tint absolutely does not mean more protection. It only ensures a reduction in glare and good looks. There are also higher-grade films such as ceramic window film that allows for an added layer of protection.
Car Theft: A Crime of Impulse
While we don't dive into the psychology and science of criminals, there is a mountain of evidence that indicates that smash/grab crimes are committed by individuals that are acting on opportunity rather than being criminal masterminds. If you have a properly dark window tint on your vehicle, your possessions are likely to be more hidden than someone who has no window tint.
Car thieves are less likely to break into your vehicle if there is little guarantee of reward and will simply move onto easier targets. Will window tinting prevent crime against your vehicle? No. But it could make a big difference in which vehicle thieves choose to target.
Window Tinting Rules and Regulations
Jurisdictions seek to maintain driver and officer safety by regulating the darkness of window tint. As frustrating as it can be, every state has a slightly different version of what is acceptable when applying vehicle window tint. Violations of these regulations can lead to expensive fines that force drivers to remove the violating window tint and prove that removal to the local authorities. Here is a breakdown of the regulations in Missouri: https://windowtintlaws.us/missouri/
The Professional Choice
When considering tinting the windows on your vehicle, you may be overwhelmed by the huge selection of brands and options available. Keep in mind: NOT ALL WINDOW TINT IS CREATED EQUAL! No matter your budget or performance goals - the vehicle experts at Extensive Detailing have an incredible solution for you. To learn more about window tinting solutions we offer, or to receive a free quote, click the button below.