Tinting for hot weather - Yes or no?

Maintenance/Repairs
1

Hi,

We will be moving to Liberty, MO in 1st week of September. Coming from Seattle, it would be hot for me and for my Acura RDX too. One of thought is to get the window tinting done to prevent from heat, can that help ?

I read some forums and few suggestions came up with →

- Windshield: No film, nothing. Optional, if it helps then keep the AS-1 visor strip.
- Front/rear side windows & rear windshield: 35% VLT ceramic.

With this, some states can be problem →

  • Fine in MO, KS, CA (rears only), LA, MD, OR, KY, TX (fronts OK in those marked).

  • Fronts would be a problem in MN, NY, PA, RI, NJ, NH, WI, VA, MI, CA (CA/NY/PA/RI/NJ/NH are the strictest).

If we ever go on trip/visit, that could be problem with nearby states. I wouldn’t drive too far anyway. If I consider nearby states, then my current configuration (AS-1 visor; 35% all around) should be fully compliant in MO, KS, NE, OK, AR, and IL for an SUV like RDX. Only Iowa is the outlier with a much lighter front-window rule.

Please share your thoughts on this, if I am thinking in right way, or just overthinking, as I keep reading about “very harsh” sun and heat there :slight_smile:

I never did tinting so far, as we are in Seattle and prior California (Torrance, it is not that hot as rest of CA). So I do not know really, how much it would help practically. Maybe I will reach there and think about this in next summers if it is needed for me or not.

We love travel. And all day car will be parked in open area, not shaded. That is reason, this thought came to mind.

Thank much in advance.

2

I live in Arkansas.

I always get the windows tinted when we get a new vehicle. In addition to privacy, the tint makes a big difference when driving and during the day when the car is parked. For example, before we got the windows tinted in my wife’s vehicle, my arm would get rather hot resting on the driver’s side door. That problem is gone now.

Make sure to shop around for pricing, as it can vary a lot with different shops. Also be mindful of the tint darkness laws in the area in which you’re moving to. You don’t want to pay a bunch of money to have the tint applied, only to get pulled over by law enforcement.

Good luck.

3

Just wait until you get there. Also you may have some tint that came on the vehicle. Plus any shop there will know rules for tinting,

3 Likes
4

I have a friend who lives in Texas, And once in a while he would get pulled over by local authorities when visiting me for too dark of tint in the windows. He would then prove he was from Texas, and then show the laws for window tint in Texas.

They let him go each time.

Tester

1 Like
5

Yes you are over thinking. September will be the last month for hot weather so a windsheild shade will do you more good now.

6

Here are the tint % by state, I’d just wait until you get there, see if you need it. I’ve been in TX 30 years, current car is the first with tint (already installed by dealer). Fine, but not mandatory. Will you be parking in a garage at home? At work? If so, need for tint is much less.

Window Tint Laws By State: 2024 Legal Window Tint Percentages

7

It will be always unshaded, at home and in office too. There is no shade there.

8

Then, in addition to side window tinting, I’d get a front windshield shade. I’ve used ones like this, the one-piece z-fold one I got was a pain:

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1 Like
9

Front windshield shade will help when it is parked and will reduce harsh sun flare on plastic. For the time when I am driving, does 35% VLT ceramic really help much for Front/rear side windows & rear windshield ?
I am reading that “The rear windows of an Acura RDX typically come with a factory-installed tint, often around 20%”.

Regarding shade, is one piece z-fold is difficult to fit ?

10

When driving your air-conditioning is your friend. No more than a windshield shade costs at Walmart just buy one and see for yourself . I have the shiny reflective ones and it is not a problem for me . Relax, you are not moving to Death Valley

1 Like
11

Yes, I found it enough of a pain I didn’t use it. And it was bulky. The one I showed above is more convenient and much more compact to stow away.

And if the rear side windows and rear window are already tinted, I’d leave them alone.

12

Great. I just bought one of those multi-fold shades for my car. It is due to be delivered tomorrow. NOW you tell me… :smile:

13

Florida resident here….

Two of 3 cars tinted with 30%. One with ceramic tint. 2 of the 3 cars are black! There is a clear ceramic film available that I intend to add to the black car with the rest of the windows at 30% ceramic. I hear it reduces the heat load quite a lot but doesn’t draw the law.

But sun load here is horrendous. Would be less so in MO.

14

I just bought a windshield shade that is two wire rings sewn into a fabric shade. It noticeably reduces the car temperature when the front of the car faces the Sun. The kit also comes with shades for the side windows. I use the side window shade to keep the driver’s seat from getting too hot.

1 Like
15

I strongly recommend against rear window tinting, I often see it fail along the defroster grids. Just the front side windows for me.

16

Don’t forget side window vent shades/rain guards so you can crack the windows an inch or so and not get rain inside, with my legal 35% tint for TN and vent shades, it does not get all that hot inside my truck when parked outside at the dr office etc…

17

Don’t either of you have air conditioned cars?

18

You must first get inside the car where the interior can get up to125 degrees F while the car sat in the sun all day in order start the engine and turn on the AC.

Sorta like getting in a car when it’s -25 degrees F.

You suffer until the AC starts cooling or the heater starts heating the interior.

All the while screaming, “Why is it so F’n hot/cold!!”

Tester