Is tinted windshield necessary? General experience with tint?

[AndyAndyAndy]

I can't see in the night while driving. I suspect a heavily tinted windshield. My idea is rip that tint off by myself. In that case, what is your experience with driving/parking car without any tint in Thailand? Is it a good idea not havinf tinted windshield at all?

 

In case I don't like it, how much would it cost to get the windshield tinted again and what type (percentage etc) of the tint would be ideal?

[Don Mega]

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/519085-car-window-tinting/

 

[AndyAndyAndy]

6 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/519085-car-window-tinting/

 

Yeah, that thread is very confusing.

 

95% tint should mean that it let through 95% of the light. But half of the guys there are using it other way around. So in the end you have no idea what are they recommending.

[Don Mega]

Just now, AndyAndyAndy said:

Yeah, that thread is very confusing.

 

95% tint should mean that it let through 95% of the light. But half of the guys there are using it other way around. So in the end you have no idea what are they recommending.

In Thailand 95% is 95% block.

 

I have 60% on my windscreen and 80% on all other glass.

[Pilotman]

I have 40% front, 60% for the rest.  40% is good for daytime, as it generally removes the need for sunglasses, but at twilight its not good at all.   Good job that I hardly ever drive in the dusk or at night.  I should have gone for 30% front. 

[Kwasaki]

20 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

In case I don't like it, how much would it cost to get the windshield tinted again and what type (percentage etc) of the tint would be ideal?

Mine is minor tint but OK slightly mirror affect and good nighttime vision.

[bodga]

Nothing  on the front and 20%  all  round ie 20% block, anything else is  plain dangerous and you can see that at  night by the folk who keep driving into the back of   parked vehicles.

[VocalNeal]

Back in the day my Cooper S had what was at the time called Ambulance glass. 

 

Very useful if you and the girlfriend wanted a quickie in a rural field gateway without anyone being able to see inside the car. Even with their nose up against the glass.

[cooked]

NOT that it matters but I believe that the legal limit is 30% tint. 

The only reason I can see for tinting is to be able to avoid eye contact, an 18 year old girl has the same status as a 50 year old gangster, you never know. 

Blocking of UV is another matter and can be done without reducing vision. 

[transam]

Do you really need it, the last two cars I had in the UK had a slight tint "in" the glass from factory, as you may know there are a few very hot months in the UK, and I never had a problem, both rides had A/C.......????

[transam]

7 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Back in the day my Cooper S had what was at the time called Ambulance glass. 

 

Very useful if you and the girlfriend wanted a quickie in a rural field gateway without anyone being able to see inside the car. Even with their nose up against the glass.

Quickie in a real Mini.......Wow, you both must be midgets...????

[GreasyFingers]

I do not have tint on the windscreen (except 10cm wide across the top to stop some glare) or the drivers window. Even had them cut a hole in the tint on the passenger window to see the rear vision mirror without the reflections. It has not been a problem not having the tint.

[VocalNeal]

7 minutes ago, transam said:

Quickie in a real Mini.......Wow, you both must be midgets...????

hahah. Push the reclining passenger seat back and..

 

Although to be fair  I may still have evidence of a scar on my left calf where is rubbed on the heater box.????

[transam]

9 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

hahah. Push the reclining passenger seat back and..

 

Although to be fair  I may still have evidence of a scar on my left calf where is rubbed on the heater box.????

Reclining passenger seat in a Mini, blimey, you were posh...............????

[Curt1591]

There is a minimum tint on my windows. Not only can I see out, people can see in. It's nice to be able to acknowledge each other in traffic situations. 

[2long]

Some people (in my family) complain why we didn't get heavily tinted windows when we bought our car new. I got 40% on the back and sides, and I can't remember the windscreen, but it was either no tint or a lot less than 40%. I care more about safety than looking cool or not being seen by others. Tinted windows are dangerous, and technically illegal for good reason. You can't see as well at night, and other road users can't see you 'see them' if that makes sense.

It's not expensive, and there are loads of places you can get it done (or removed) at.

Good luck, and don't be a sheep... do what makes you happy and is safest.

[transam]

3 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

There is a minimum tint on my windows. Not only can I see out, people can see in. It's nice to be able to acknowledge each other in traffic situations. 

 

[2long]

1 minute ago, transam said:

 

THANKS! ????

Just last night I had my final Heinekens until I find or am able to buy more, and that advert just made me feel inadequate and and ...... ????????

[Aland]

I had the dealership take the tint off of my windshield, it absolutely is not necessary and can actually be dangerous. Why did I have mine removed? I found myself driving down the street one night, with my head out my side window as I was looking for an unlit side street. The next morning I closely inspected my windshield and realized it was tinted, I was shocked as I don’t think it’s even remotely legal in my home country.

[holy cow cm]

28 minutes ago, 2long said:

THANKS! ????

Just last night I had my final Heinekens until I find or am able to buy more, and that advert just made me feel inadequate and and ...... ????????

Yeah same here. Had my last Singha beers and only have Kahlua and a bottle of champagne left. But I need to take a break off of it for 4-5 days anyway so no biggie unless they extend the ban.

[holy cow cm]

On our truck and car we have 40% only on the sides and back. Front is tinted at the top portion only. Too dangerous having the whole windshield tinted.

[The Word]

1 hour ago, cooked said:

NOT that it matters but I believe that the legal limit is 30% tint. 

Not in Thailand, there are no specific guidelines or laws defining what percentage is legal or otherwise.  A good few years ago there was an attempt to make (all?) tinting illegal, including that on police vehicles, but it was soon abandoned.

[The Word]

51 minutes ago, 2long said:

Tinted windows are dangerous, and technically illegal for good reason.

No, they're not illegal in Thailand, either "technically" or otherwise.  If they were there'd be a citable section of the Land Traffic Act that covered it.

[katatonic]

Bought a car in Bangkok once, a Jeep Grand Cherokee (don't buy one..) and drove into Hua Hin on the way down south to find a hotel for the night. As we were heading down the main drag into town it got dark. I had my headlights on but no-one else seemed to. Odd, I thought, until I wound my window down - it was still broad daylight. I stopped and ripped off the film on the windscreen - didn't realise it was heavily tinted until late afternoon. Unbelievably idiotic and lethal. Why people would do that is beyond me. I couldn't see other cars or bikes at all - never get the windscreen tinted! I now have lightly tinted film on one car, sides only, and just factory tint on the other.

[Lancashirelad]

You can get good quality tint such as V-Kool or 3m that is very efficient at stopping ulta-voilet light but has only a light tint.

[AndyAndyAndy]

In the end I just cut a middle part off by myself.

 

Works great. I got he best of both of the two. Middle part is crystal clear and I can finally drive in night. And bottom&top part still protects from sun.

[thailand49]

Purchased new the tint is usually free it comes 60/40, 40 in the front.  It really is depended on where you park the car and your habits.

 

I've found 60/40 to be o.k. even in the heat in Thailand, there are times and situation especially parking at the malls I've had to roll down the windows to get a clearer view it is just a matter of adjustment to things nothing so bad one needs to rip it off.

[Greg O]

All cars have a light factory tint that's designed to reduce glare. In my opinion the Thai roads are extremely hazardous and more so at night. Thai drivers simply aren't looking and they can't see out with their typical dark tint. I take it all off of every car I've had here. The shop that applies tint can take it off much easier than you can. It's a very tedious job to do yourself ( I've done it ) ...Always keep in mind as a farang if you get in an accident it will be your fault. Also the front and rear cameras don't see very well through the tint especially at night .

[fxe1200]

If you cross the border into Malaysia, make sure, that the tint is not more than 25% blocking. Otherwise they won't let you in.

[Moonlover]

I drove in the middle east for 15 years, where the glare is much stronger than it is here. I never had any tinting at all. I regard it as dangerous and unnecessary.