70% tints all round?

[vintagevrs]

Evening all,

Wanted to know has anyone had 70% tints fitted all round in their Civic and if so how does it look/does it make much difference to the standard level of tint in the glass/do you have any pictures?

I don't like the look of having it black on the rear and back windows but clear at the front, maybe 70% on the front windows and 60%-50% on the back would work but any help/advice/pictures would greatly help.

Obviously I want to keep my car legal so it has to be no darker than 70% at the front.

Thanks in advance for any replies

[Type S Bournemouth]

its illegal to have any tints on your front windows

[vintagevrs]

When I say front I don't mean the windsreen. Driver and passenger windows at 70% and the rear passenger windows with the rear window to match. I do not think this is illegal, correct me if I am wrong?

[ante00]

in some countries is illegal on front more then 10%...well on my civic I have the darkest tint on back windows and on front is 2 shades down (i think is 50%-30% or higher)...not sure but rear is black and front is quite lighter

[Type S Bournemouth]

only legal to tint rear windows.

[charlas]

Yeah, there is not even allowed to be clear 'tints' on the driver/passenger windows, the law cam in in 2004... However after some searching, it's not quite that simple...

Quote

The Regulation states 70% of visible light must pass through the drivers windows including any other substrate fitted to the glass. Many people misunderstand the regulation and presume that 70% allows a 30% tint - It doesn't! Glass does not let in 100% of light. Clear glass only allows approximately 86% of light to pass & the slight tint of standard manufactured glass varies from the 70% maximum limit up to approx 80% of light passing through, thus any film being applied to these windows will drop the light transmissions to below the regulation limit.

[vintagevrs]

Originally Posted by charlas

Yeah, there is not even allowed to be clear 'tints' on the driver/passenger windows, the law cam in in 2004... However after some searching, it's not quite that simple...

Quote

The Regulation states 70% of visible light must pass through the drivers windows including any other substrate fitted to the glass. Many people misunderstand the regulation and presume that 70% allows a 30% tint - It doesn't! Glass does not let in 100% of light. Clear glass only allows approximately 86% of light to pass & the slight tint of standard manufactured glass varies from the 70% maximum limit up to approx 80% of light passing through, thus any film being applied to these windows will drop the light transmissions to below the regulation limit.

Excellent answer, thanks for that. Might save a trip for a quote!

So windows that have even a "light smokey tint" at the front are illegal because most manufactures windows are almost if not at the legal limit already?

[charlas]

That's what it sounds like.....

[britsbest]

Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) LEGAL STATEMENT
Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended specify the minimum levels of light that must pass through the windscreen and front side windows.
The Limits are:

• Motor vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985:
• The light transmitted through the windscreen must be at least 75%.
• The front side windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through them.

If the glass is tinted to a point whereby it lets through less light, the vehicle does not meet legal requirements.

[angie4m]

Its not illegal to tint the front as pointed out, it must let 70% light through. The professionals that tint windows know the score and the ones that know that they are doing test the light transmission with and without the tint(before application) to make sure they are not going to provide you with illegal front windows. Reason they do this is so that if you were pulled over by the police and the windows checked, if they had made them illegal then you could sue them and thats not something they want.

[vintagevrs]

Thanks for the replies, I would be interested in knowing how close the standard windows are to 70% and how much of a difference it would make.

If anyone has any pics they would be appreciated, esp on a silver type-s!

otherwise I might just ring around and see what the "pros" say....

[angie4m]

There are a few pics kicking about but I think that they are mostly on NHB's

Your local tinting place would be able to give you a better indication of what you can and cannot do. Likewise some people who have had the tinting at the back have not had the lower part of the rear screen done, due to it being plastic and the film is designed to bond with glass.

Some places will do it (without a g'tee as it not glass) and others don't.

[vintagevrs]

Originally Posted by angie4m

There are a few pics kicking about but I think that they are mostly on NHB's

Your local tinting place would be able to give you a better indication of what you can and cannot do. Likewise some people who have had the tinting at the back have not had the lower part of the rear screen done, due to it being plastic and the film is designed to bond with glass.

Some places will do it (without a g'tee as it not glass) and others don't.

Yeah, I have been reading about that, not too fussed on whether or not that can be done tbh as i think if the rear of the car is tinted it makes the interior darker giving the impression that the lower part is darker anyway but sure ill see what the locals say

Cheers

[Type S Bournemouth]

I have my rear windows tinted but not the bottom bit and it still looks great. Infact its handy as u can see out the back still at night.

[charlas]

Bumped into these shots... Honda Civic Type R, window tinting, gallery

Would assume they are the limit that can be obtained.

However did find this which explains the law as it currently stands... Worth a watch.

[illegalhunter]

Its only illegal when you get caught

[Type S Bournemouth]

which is quite common. There forever doing checks round my area for people with tinted front windscreens. Its just not worth the risk or hassle.

So not only does it cost you to originally have the front windows tinted, it then costs you a fine plus having to remove the tints. Plus if they did decide to tow away your car I expect youd have to pay some amount for that.

[mrh339]

Originally Posted by Type S Bournemouth

which is quite common. There forever doing campaigns round my area for people with tinted front windscreens. Its just not worth the risk or hassle.

Quite right, Who wants to have a car towed away for something so stupid.

[sambuca2907]

Originally Posted by vintagevrs

Thanks for the replies, I would be interested in knowing how close the standard windows are to 70% and how much of a difference it would make.

If anyone has any pics they would be appreciated, esp on a silver type-s!

otherwise I might just ring around and see what the "pros" say....

I've had my rear 3 done - the place I had mine done simply do not tint any of the front 3 windows as policy!
Pics of my Type-S - At last!