DashMats and Tint

[Hammer46]

Don't forget a DashMat to cover the black heat absorbing dashboards they're making for every car now. I have a white 2013 CX-5 that I bought new here in SC where the summers are brutal. White cars are 17° cooler than any color car but Mazda pretty much compromised that by putting black interiors everywhere. I also wish they'd give you a fabric upholstery option for the more high-end CX-5's. Sitting on leather here in the summer is an unpleasant experience, to say the least.
All in all, I like my Mazda. Oh yeah, make sure your rear windows are up if you plan on going over 40 mph. The whole car starts to shudder & groan because of the buffering wind effect inside the cabin. Im thinking of selling this one soon. No wrecks & just a bit over 81K miles on it. I've seen the new ones & they still have black interiors so I might have to leave the Mazda brand to find what I'm looking for.
Take care everyone & have a great new year, 2025.

 

[HyFlyer]

@Hammer46 , do you use good quality IR heat rejecting window film all around including the windshield?

 

[N7turbo]

@Hammer46 , do you use good quality IR heat rejecting window film all around including the windshield?

Yeah. Keep the car and get ceramic window film.

 

[Hammer46]

@Hammer46 , do you use good quality IR heat rejecting window film all around including the windshield?

I have stock window tinting all around except for windshield. It's against the law in SC. Troopers are carrying tint meters & ticketing individuals with over tinted windows & any car with tinted windshields. I've even saw a trooper make a driver remove it on the roadside before he'd let them go back on the interstate.

 

[N7turbo]

I have stock window tinting all around except for windshield. It's against the law in SC. Troopers are carrying tint meters & ticketing individuals with over tinted windows & any car with tinted windshields. I've even saw a trooper make a driver remove it on the roadside before he'd let them go back on the interstate.

Look into 70% Xpel Ceramic.

 

[Hammer46]

Look into 70% Xpel Ceramic.

Thanks...I'll look it up & ask around about its legality in SC.

 

[theblooms]

Thanks...I'll look it up & ask around about its legality in SC.

I'm also in SC. In a car, 35% on is as dark as we can go. On a van or SUV, 35% on the front windows, the rear windows and back can be as dark as you want. Anything on any windshield is strictly banned.

 

[N7turbo]

Anything on any windshield is strictly banned.

My understanding is that is true in all states. However, 70% is not noticeable to those passing by.

 

[sm1ke]

My understanding is that is true in all states. However, 70% is not noticeable to those passing by.

The tint darkness is barely noticeable, but it can change the appearance of the front windshield. Rather than a clear windshield, a tinted windshield may have a rainbow-like sheen to it (see below).

Sometimes it's not this pronounced; when I had Llumar Air Blue 80 tint on my front windshield, there was a less-pronounced rainbow effect. It's easy to pick out which cars have their windshield tinted once you know what to look for, and it sounds like the cops in @Hammer46's area are actively picking these cars out and ticketing them.

 

[N7turbo]

I've never heard of 70% getting a ticket. Have you?

Also, films vary. I haven't seen the rainbow effect on Xpel.

 

[sm1ke]

I've never heard of 70% getting a ticket. Have you?

Also, films vary. I haven't seen the rainbow effect on Xpel.

Yes, that's why I used verbiage like "it can change the appearance" and "sometimes its not as pronounced". I'm only familiar with Llumar Air Blue 80 as it's what was installed on my car.

Found this short vid showing the XPEL XR 70 on the front windshield. No rainbow effect, like you said, but it does look a bit darker than I was expecting. Dark enough for a cop to want to test it, IMO.

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

I've never received a ticket or been pulled over for my tint, but read a lot of posts from people on various forums about being ticketed for windshield tint. @Hammer46 has also mentioned his experiences with state troopers and their affinity for ticketing tinted cars (including those with tinted windshields).

 

[GFrosty]

I've never heard of 70% getting a ticket. Have you?

Also, films vary. I haven't seen the rainbow effect on Xpel.

I haven't seen any noticeable difference with the 3M Ceramic IR 70%, either. But then, it does list a 7% exterior reflectance of visible light ... so perhaps someone knowing what to look for would see it.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/dc/v101414251/

 

[N7turbo]

Found this short vid showing the XPEL XR 70 on the front windshield. No rainbow effect, like you said, but it does look a bit darker than I was expecting. Dark enough for a cop to want to test it, IMO.

Yeah. The XR Black has a nice neutral color and will look more gray - if wanting to avoid attention, you could use the XR Plus which has a blueish tint.

 

[sm1ke]

Moved this discussion into its own thread.