Types of Window Tinting, Explained
What's the difference between carbon and crystalline window tinting? What exactly is dyed window tint, and is it right for you? Here's what you should know.
In recent years, people have grown more interested in tinting their car windows. Younger car models often include a degree of window tinting already, but many car owners actively seek out deeper tints to reach their ideal look.
This popularity is not without reason. There are several benefits to tinting your car, besides looking cooler than your friends. Window tinting helps block harmful UV rays, keeping your vehicle cool in summer and trapping heat in winter.
By blocking out harmful rays, auto window tinting helps preserve your seating upholstery and dashboard from weathering. It also gives your car more privacy and adds extra strength to your windows, making them harder to break.
Sounds awesome, right? Now the trick is to figure out what car window tint types are best for your purposes. Not sure how to do that? If so, you're in luck! In this article, we'll explore several types of car window tinting so you can decide what's best for you.
Window Tinting 101: Dyed Window Tints
Dyed window tints are among the most popular options in auto window tinting. It's a straightforward tinting model, consisting of thin films of dyed plastic. This plastic functions like an adhesive, sticking firmly to your car windows.
One of this tint's best features is how many options it provides. Dyed window tints come in several shades, each a little darker than the one before. This way, you can choose the tint that's closest to your ideal look.
Dyed window tints have a flashy aesthetic, but they're not the best performing tints out there. They provide a decent amount of UV protection, but it's nothing spectacular when compared to other tint types. However, it still may provide all the protection you want, so this doesn't mean you must rule it out.
The most significant downside to dyed window tints is that they fade over time. You'll most likely need to replace them after a few years. That said, they're also among the most common and affordable tint types.
Government Agent Car Window Types: Metallized Window Tints
If you want to go with a full government agent look, then metalized window tints are the perfect choice for you. These tints offer a stylish, sleek sheen that is sure to make your car the most distinguished on the road.
These tints vastly outperform dyed tints in keeping out harmful UV light. This outperformance comes from the reflective ability of this tint. Metalized window tints utilize metallic microparticles in their film that help reinforce the film against UV light.
This metallic influence makes the tint much more capable of stabilizing your car temperature. It also gives the glass an almost mirror-like quality. Moreover, the metal in the film helps secure your windows against break-ins.
With these microparticles, it is far less likely your window would shatter upon an object's impact. So, if you want extra privacy and security, this tint is ideal.
However, even the best of tints have some downsides. This window tint is far more costly than dyed window tints. The old saying goes, "you get what you pay for," and this is no exception.
The other disadvantage is that this tint is notorious for interfering with signals. Radio, GPS, and cell service have all suffered because of metalized window tints.
If you're somebody who spends a lot of your time on the phone while driving or who relies on GPS, this may not be the tint type for you.
Hybrid Tints
If you like some features of both dyed and metalized tints, then hybrid films may be your best choice. These tints try to merge the privacy factors of dyed window tints with the security and stabilization of metalized window tints.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the most affordable option. Merging these two materials comes at a high cost. Moreover, while these tints have their advantages, they also risk the same sorts of signal loss as metalized tints.
Carbon Tints: The Subtle Option
Many people who love car tints aren't all that concerned with subtlety. However, if you like a more understated, tasteful look, carbon tints are perfect for you.
These tints offer a unique finish that you won't find with any other material. They're also excellent at insulating your vehicle and keeping out excess heat. The reason they excel in this way is because of their carbon particles.
The carbon particles in these tints make it highly reflective, preventing the tints from fading over time. In this way, they're similar to metalized tints. However, these carbon particles also block up to 40% of infrared light.
This protection makes the tint effective at keeping warm air in the car during cold weather while insulating it against excess heat in hot weather. Finally, these tints have the advantage of allowing free signal access. Your phone, GPS, and radio will work fine with these tints.
Their only downside is their cost. Due to rarity, these tints are far more expensive than the previous options listed.
The Ultimate Window Tints: Ceramic
We've saved the best for last. While it may sound impossible to beat the performance of carbon tints, ceramic does so with ease. Unlike the previous tints, ceramic doesn't use any dyes or metallic particles in its film.
Instead, manufacturers infuse non-conductive ceramic particles with the film. The results are mind-blowing. Ceramic doesn't block any signal, but it can block up to 99% of UV light. It's the top-performing tint in the world.
Unfortunately, this also makes it the most expensive. There's no question that ceramic tint is most likely to break the bank.
Tint Your Windows Today
As you can see, there's a wide range of window tinting available to you. Each has its benefits and disadvantages, along with its price range. If you're wondering, "what kind of window tinting should I get", consider your budget and what you most want out of the tint.
Once you've made the decision, reach out to Metropolitan Tinting today and get your windows the tint you want!
