Various Window Tint Types are available in the market, Beginners are confused to choose the right tint type while altering the look of their vehicles, As window tinting is the best option to improve the aesthetics of Automobile. Most of the manufacturers add a basic layer of tinting material, that’s why aftermarket tinting remains a popular choice in terms of selecting tint color and shade. Before Applying the sun screening or tinted materials, one should aware of window tinting laws.
There are various advantages of Tinting Automobile windows, tint adds style to your car and makes it unique. It also increases the privacy and security of your vehicle.
Keep in mind, Drivers or vehicle owners must follow the State Tint Laws while installing the tinted material on vehicle windows. The illegal window tint may cause a trouble in form of fine or jail.
Window Tint Types and their properties
There are Six common types of tint available in the market, you can choose the right tint type for your vehicle by understanding their properties.
Dyed Tint
Dyed tint is the most common type of tint available in after market. Majority of the motorists install dyed tints to enhance the aesthetics of the car rather than the functionality to block harmful UV Rays. Dyed tint comes with different tint shades from lighter to darker, you can choose the best one for your vehicle.
Dyed tint contains a layer of dye between the adhesive layer and top protective coating. The dye layer gets fade over the time due to exposure to direct sun.
The basic advantage of dyed tint is affordability, as it is cheaper than all other Types of tint. Besides affordability it provide basic UV protection and increases privacy and security of your vehicle.
The only disadvantage of Dyed tint is, it doesn’t block UV rays as their tint types do, due to which dyed tint has limited ability to block solar heat.
Metalized Tint
As the name suggests Metal particles are embedded in the Metallized tint, due to presence of metallic particles this film come with extra thickness.
Metallized tints have treated layer for UV protection and a metallized layer for heat reflection and darkness. Instead of absorption they reflect sunlight for better heat rejection, which makes interior of vehicle cooler in hot summer days. This tint type is more effective than dyed tinting.
Due to usability of metal in the formation, metallized tints are more durable and scratch resistant. Durability also increases the shatter resistance, which can protect driver and passenger from shattered glass windows in an event of road accident.
Metallized tint are shiny in appearance, due to this mostly people reject this option as they like matte looks. Remember metallized tint or mirrored tint is prohibited in some states. You must check your State laws for tinted windows, before installing metallized tints.
The disadvantage of Metallized tinting is it can interfere with Car GPS, Mobile phone and Stereo systems.
Hybrid Tint
Hybrid tint is the combination of Dyed and metallized tint types. These tints are made up of several layers of dye with a thin metallic layer, where dye layers help to block light and the metallic layer adds the dark appearance to the window film. Hybrid tints are not too dark and reflective.
Another advantage of Hybrid tint is lesser interference with the mobile phone and Vehicle electronic systems including GPS and Multimedia.
The common misconception is the darker the tint, more heat will be blocked by the film. But this is not true in the case of Hybrid window films. It block heat but it is lighter in shade as compared to the dyed tints.
Hybrid tint window film is the best option among the dyed tint and Metallized tints, as it comes up with advantages of both. This tint type is not shiny in look and not reflective as metallized tint. Also it balances the affordability and the performance, less cheaper than metallized tint.
Carbon Tint
Carbon tint are made up of carbon fiber particles, which gives dark and matter finish look with an extended time to fade. This window film block more sunlight as compared to dyed and metallized tint. This type of film provides strong insulation and hence maintains the temperature of vehicle better than previous tint types.
Carbon tints are the best option if you are concerned about aging and fading of leather seats, dashboard and other interior materials.
These type of window films don’t give shiny look, but provide you and authentic matte black appearance. Usually it is not famous due to an expensive option due to fade resistant, extended life span and performance.
Crystalline Tint
Crystalline tint is the best option for the Vehicle owners or drivers who want to get all benefits of Car window tinting without experiencing darker window tints. This window film rejects more heat than many darker films without altering the appearance of vehicle. This tint type has a high VLT rating with an exceptional technology to block Infrared radiations.
Crystalline tint is non-metallized tint with a superior UV protection and can block up to 99% UV Rays.
Crystalline tint is the best choice for the older people and others having eye sight problems, as they may experience difficulty while driving in the night.
Ceramic Tint
Ceramic tint is multilayered window film which uses microscopic non-conductive ceramic particles with an ability to block 99% of harmful UV rays. This type of window films have an excellent heat rejection and glare reduction capabilities.
Ceramic window films are non-metallized film, so it will not interfere with mobile signals and other electronics of your vehicle.
If you are looking for some cheap window tint options, Ceramic tint cannot be your choice. It is the premium option among other tint types, due to its performance, durability and advanced technology.
3M offers the extensive series of Ceramic IR films for Automobile windows, available in multiple tint levels. 3M Ceramic window films are also recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.