Black Tinted Windscreens

[Glassman]

Privacy glass. Dark tinted windows. Gangsta tints or drug dealer tints polarise opinion. But on a front windscreen?

On my travels in recent weeks I've seen cars coming towards me where you cannot see in. Nothing; it's blacked out. These were not chameleon tints by the way; they were the darkest tints you can get so 5-10% Visible Light Transmission.

Now I've removed tints with 15% VLT tints on and even just to park the car is like driving at night with no lights on. I can't see how anyone would want to drive with blacked out side windows at the front, but on a windscreen too? They obviously think it looks good?

I get why for a press shoot the car might be presented with blacked out windows but to drive one makes no sense. Or they simply good at driving behind such darkness? I wonder if there are any stats on crashes involving blacked out windscreens.

[Triumph Man]

Because it looks sick bruv, etc etc

[ab11]

There is a Range Rover I see on a weekly basis that has a weirdly reflective and dark tinted front windscreen and I cannot see (no pun) how this is legal.
I pulled up its MOT history a couple of weeks back and can't see any mention of this but note its due at the end of this month so will be checking up on it as there is no way this should pass and if it does is clearly suspect.

[Road2Ruin]

Surely it's illegal. Nto checked, but I would be surprised if it isn't.

[Riley Blue]

When they first hit the streets I had the side and rear windows of my Golf GTI tinted for a magazine article. They were so dark I had to drive with the front side windows down in order to see at night and I peeled the tint off after the article appeared.

[bergclimber34]

Never really seen the need for it, other than criminality, and it also tends to attract certain types of people it seems and certain car brands.

[s p a c e m a n]

As an ex chav who always used to tint the front windows if the rear was tinted as standard... It does look sick bruv... Also window tints are not part of the MOT test.


I now prefer completely clear glass all around the car, it just looks cleaner.

[Krikkit]

ab11 said:

There is a Range Rover I see on a weekly basis that has a weirdly reflective and dark tinted front windscreen and I cannot see (no pun) how this is legal.
I pulled up its MOT history a couple of weeks back and can't see any mention of this but note its due at the end of this month so will be checking up on it as there is no way this should pass and if it does is clearly suspect.

If it passes you know it's a dodgy MOT as well

[Pica-Pica]

s p a c e m a n said:

As an ex chav who always used to tint the front windows if the rear was tinted as standard... It does look sick bruv... Also window tints are not part of the MOT test.


I now prefer completely clear glass all around the car, it just looks cleaner.

They are part of MOT.
3.2
(b)(ii) Windscreen or window excessively tinted and visibility through swept area of windscreen or of an obligatory external mirror seriously affected Major

[Koln-RS]

Not a fan of dark tints, and those on just the rear completely upset the design aesthetics of many cars - visually cutting them in half.

Also, can feel quite claustrophobic in the back.

There are legal regulations and these are often breached - and made worse if sunglasses are being worn (the level of tint also being limited for driving).

[s p a c e m a n]

Pica-Pica said:

s p a c e m a n said:

As an ex chav who always used to tint the front windows if the rear was tinted as standard... It does look sick bruv... Also window tints are not part of the MOT test.


I now prefer completely clear glass all around the car, it just looks cleaner.

They are part of MOT.
3.2
(b)(ii) Windscreen or window excessively tinted and visibility through swept area of windscreen or of an obligatory external mirror seriously affected Major

Ok. Having tints is not an MOT failure and the wording makes it the testers opinion. There's a legal standard for when it's tested with equipment but that is not part of the MOT test.

I've never needed a dodgy MOT, I've even had cars tested at the council run MOT station and was never questioned about the front side window tints.

A limo tint windscreen probably would be taking the piss though

[ab11]

Krikkit said:

If it passes you know it's a dodgy MOT as well

Exactly.

So I'll need to find out where they get done.

[ferret50]

When I built my campervan I wanted a window in the side sliding door, because when in Euroland it aids safety when joining main roads.

Took me ages to find a clear glass supplier, and it cost far more than a tinted window!

[Glassman]

70% tint for reference.

[Red9zero]

Glassman said:

70% tint for reference.

When we bought our CX5 it had the standard rear privacy glass (20% ?), although it seemed slightly lighter than the V40 we had before, so obviously her indoors wasn't happy. I was intending to get an additional 20% over the top, but the tinting chap recommended limo tint / 5% to stop anyone seeing in the boot, so that's what we ended up with. It has made the back of the car very dark, and while you can just about see out in daylight, at night you can't see much at all. Luckily the car has a reversing camera and I always use the door mirrors rather than the interior mirror anyway, as I also have an old Landie. Anyone know what 5% over the top of 20% would make the current % ? I assume it is 1% ?

[Glosphil]

Red9zero said:

Glassman said:

70% tint for reference.

When we bought our CX5 it had the standard rear privacy glass (20% ?), although it seemed slightly lighter than the V40 we had before, so obviously her indoors wasn't happy. I was intending to get an additional 20% over the top, but the tinting chap recommended limo tint / 5% to stop anyone seeing in the boot, so that's what we ended up with. It has made the back of the car very dark, and while you can just about see out in daylight, at night you can't see much at all. Luckily the car has a reversing camera and I always use the door mirrors rather than the interior mirror anyway, as I also have an old Landie. Anyone know what 5% over the top of 20% would make the current % ? I assume it is 1% ?

Door mirrors make things look further away than they actually are. Interior rear view mirror gives a true view. One reason some drivers pull in close to you after overtaking on motorways.

[Super Sonic]

Red9zero said:

Anyone know what 5% over the top of 20% would make the current % ? I assume it is 1% ?

Adding a 5%tint to a 20%tint will not make a 1%tint. It will be 25%.

[Red9zero]

Super Sonic said:

Red9zero said:

Anyone know what 5% over the top of 20% would make the current % ? I assume it is 1% ?

Adding a 5%tint to a 20%tint will not make a 1%tint. It will be 25%.

But a 20% tint is lighter than a 5% tint. Surely a 25% tint would be lighter still ? We need Glassman with a calculator

[TimmyMallett]

Please don't. I T boned a car on my motorbike at night and the driver had dark tints. He just said 'I didnt see you'

He lost his licence (new driver 6 points)

[Deranged Rover]

Whilst I strongly dislike tints, they are handy, as it enables you to easily spot ruffians, ne'er-do-wells and criminal types, and people with ugly children.