Factory pigmented windows in CX-30

[JDC]

Hi

New to the forum, here.

After I bought my 2024 CX-30 2.5S, the dealership tinted the windows. Here, in Arizona, there is no legal limit governing back and/or hatch windows but 33-35% Visual Light Transmission on front driver and passenger side windows. I've always found the front windows to be a bit hard to see through at night so I asked the dealership about what tint level they used. They claim 35% all around which, I suppose, is near enough to the legal limit to avoid a "fix-it" ticket. But, it occurred to me that the window panes may have come from the factory with some degree of pigmenting/tinting. If that's the case wouldn't adding 35% tint to that skew the total VLT percentages past state allowed levels? In this state overly tinted windows is a primary traffic infraction and I'd rather not give an LEO who is having a bad day (we all have those from time to time) a reason to pull me over. Thanks

 

[N7turbo]

Yes, the two could stack, however, Mazda does not use privacy glass on the driver and passenger front windows.

 

[TheMAN]

all factory "fish bowl" glass comes "tinted" at 70%... any optically 100% clear glass is expensive and hard to make, so not only as a cost savings in the auto industry, but also a value add to customers, is to use 70% VLT tempered glass

when you add tint on top of it, you make the effective VLT even darker than whatever the film says it is... so in other words, when you put in 35% film on 70% glass, you come out to about 25%... it's a multiplication of both percentages that results in the new effective VLT... put a light meter on and you'll see it's close to there

too often, tinters don't consider or know about this, and the owner unknowingly gets the car back that's now illegal

 

[N7turbo]

Tinters know about it.

 

[JDC]

Thanks for all the responses to this "newbie"! As I said, I've spoken to the dealership and they say that everything is legal. That said, I guess I'll have to go down there and have them put a tint meter on the driver's and passenger's windows to either prove or disprove what they contend. The next step could be tricky, though. IF they've actually (knowingly or not) installed tint that combines with the already pigmented glass to make the VLT illegal, getting them to remedy the situation by removing the old then installing tint that still keeps the driver's seat cool but doesn't result in an equipment violation will undoubtedly be easier said than done.

 

[N7turbo]

Thanks for all the responses to this "newbie"! As I said, I've spoken to the dealership and they say that everything is legal. That said, I guess I'll have to go down there and have them put a tint meter on the driver's and passenger's windows to either prove or disprove what they contend. The next step could be tricky, though. IF they've actually (knowingly or not) installed tint that combines with the already pigmented glass to make the VLT illegal, getting them to remedy the situation by removing the old then installing tint that still keeps the driver's seat cool but doesn't result in an equipment violation will undoubtedly be easier said than done.

If keeping things cool is what you're after, you need ceramic tint, not just regular tint. Regular tint does hardly anything for blocking infrared.

 

[TheMAN]

Tinters know about it.

not all do... you haven't seen how many mickey mouse shops are out there if you're saying that

 

[JDC]

If keeping things cool is what you're after, you need ceramic tint, not just regular tint. Regular tint does hardly anything for blocking infrared.

My current tint is ceramic "passes" the heat rejection "test" in this southern Arizona climate ! If the current shade turns out to be over the allowed limit, I'm sure that the same company makes a ceramic tint that transmits more light but still rejects heat. Actually, there's probably not an issue it's just that on my previous car the back windows were darker than the passenger and drivers windows and that is what I'm used to seeing.