Tinted Windows

Author
Discussion

matty6660

Original Poster:

65 posts

126 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
I want to tint my windows but am a bit confused.

I know you need to have 70% light transmission for side windows. But the 70% tint on ebay is hardly noticeable at all. I'm sure I've seen cars on the road with much darker windows than 70%, more like 1% or 5%. I don't understand it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390305237525?ssPageName=...

calibrax

4,788 posts

210 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
The cars you've seen on the road are illegal.

vonhosen

40,171 posts

216 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
You've seen illegal tints on other cars on the road.

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
You can go as dark as you like behind the B-pillar. Windscreen and front side windows need to be lighter (70% sides, windscreen even lighter iirc).

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

158 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
I've seen someone walk out the pub pissed as a fart and drive home, is it ok for me to do the same?

Osinjak

5,453 posts

120 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
CaptainMorgan said:
I've seen someone walk out the pub pissed as a fart and drive home, is it ok for me to do the same?
WTF has that got to do with anything?

OP, here's your answer: https://www.gov.uk/tinted-vehicle-window-rules

aw51 121565

4,771 posts

232 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Standard tinted glass "from the factory" is pretty close to 70% light transmission (on the high side, obviously wink ) - this is why the tinted stuff on eBay isn't particularly noticeable on plain glass... smile

PHmember

2,487 posts

170 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
WTF has that got to do with anything?

OP, here's your answer: https://www.gov.uk/tinted-vehicle-window-rules
It's the same thing, the OP has stated that he clearly knows the rules - yet he's seen others do differently & then asks what to do. You know the rules, it's up to you if you want to adhere to them or not. Some people choose not to.

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

158 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
I was suggesting just because we see others break the law daily doesnt make it ok. The law is black and white, 70% on the front, as already said that is pretty much what most cars come out the factory with. yes

Dracoro

8,655 posts

244 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Is the 70% light in or light out?

Osinjak

5,453 posts

120 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
CaptainMorgan said:
I was suggesting just because we see others break the law daily doesnt make it ok. The law is black and white, 70% on the front, as already said that is pretty much what most cars come out the factory with. yes
Why bother using a silly example, why not just simply say what you mean? The original question is hardly so difficult that you would need to use an allegory so why bother? Anyway, according to the link it's 75% on the windscreen, 70% on the side windows and as we all know, anything you like from the B pillar backwards.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Dracoro said:
Is the 70% light in or light out?
Do you really need to ask?

Dracoro

8,655 posts

244 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Roo said:
Dracoro said:
Is the 70% light in or light out?
Do you really need to ask?
I should have better phrased it, is it 70% for both inwards AND outwards light?

Joeguard1990

1,181 posts

125 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Take my advise. Leave the front windows alone. Then fade to the back, so go for a 30% on the rears and then 50% on the back. The fronts will naturally look darker because of the reduced light inside of your car so will appear tinted.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Dracoro said:
Roo said:
Dracoro said:
Is the 70% light in or light out?
Do you really need to ask?
I should have better phrased it, is it 70% for both inwards AND outwards light?
"Transmission through" relates to natural light being transmitted through from outside to inside.

Light from inside hinders vision. In other words you can't limo tint your windows but drive around with a 500w light inside your car to meet the transmission regulations at night. You wouldn't be able to see anything.

Dracoro

8,655 posts

244 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
What I was asking was if you have tints that don't appear dark at all from the inside (70% through etc.) but from the outside look vey dark, like "one way glass" or are there also regulations about seeing in from outside. Enabling eye contact/etc. for outside road users/pedestrians/etc.

Osinjak

5,453 posts

120 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
It really is unbelievably simple, the windscreen has to let 75% of the light through and the side windows 70%. That's it. No two-way weirdness, no bright shining lights inside the car, nothing else. I've seen plod assess it, they stick a little gadget on the inside of the glass to measure how much light gets through.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
If you've ever driven a car with illegally tinted windows you'll realise why they're illegal.

You can't see a fking thing out of them at night.

Mk3Spitfire

2,921 posts

127 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
I've seen plod assess it, they stick a little gadget on the inside of the glass to measure how much light gets through.
Its named, very originally, "tintman". And it appears there are about 2 per force.

speedking31

3,541 posts

135 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Just wear dark sunglasses thumbup