Tinted windows: same all around or have the back be darker then the front?

70% is the legal limit in front as I read the law. However the darkest film you can apply is 88%

The California Highway patrol reads it even more restrictively.
CHP-Frequently Asked Questions of the Highway Patrol

Here is the entire section so you can read yourself

V C Section 26708 Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver x2019 s View

 

Do what is legal to save some headaches.. But for me, that small window by the windshield I had tinted the same as my rear windows. I dont think there is any rules for that window.. I think it looked better that way.. In Florida legal tint is 20+% in the front and I think 17% in the rear..

 

True. My previous car had 35% smoke in the front and no tickets in the 10 years I had it. It's not until you go much darker than 35% that puts you at risk. However, you don't want to get a 30% film because the front side glass is already tinted 75%, giving it an aggregate of 22.5% (0.30 x 0.75 x 100). Stick with 50% or higher if you want to play it pretty safe, as that'll give you an aggregate of 37.5%.

 

I would do it all in the same %. I never liked the limo look. I did 40% with mine all around. I am thinking of getting Llumar Air Blue for the windshield to help with the heat and glare.

It just depends on what you are going for. If you are going to heat rejection/UV protection there are many tints out there that will do that without getting your windows dark...Huper, 3M Crystalline, and other ceramic tints. If you are going for looks/privacy then you can go for cheaper films.

 

If you care about the legal limit, I believe you cannot have ANY tint on the front driver/passenger windows in CA. However, the rears can be as dark as you want.

 

Technically correct, as the factory glass is already tinted ~75% in the glass. However, what's legal and what's actually enforced are two different things.

 

Stick with the same tint all around. I cant stand it when the back is darker than the front. Ive had 35% tint all around since May. Havent been pulled over yet.

 

Here in MO they used to not allow any tint on the front doors, but a few years ago they started allowing up to 35%. The rears can be literally as dark as you want, even if you spraypainted them black from the inside they wouldn't care. I tend to prefer darker tint, my wife lighter. Our Prius is 35% on every window, the Suburban is 20% all the way around (fronts done to match the factory privacy glass) but with an extra layer of 20% on the back window to make it harder to see in from behind. I had it done that way on my previous Escape, Navigator and 2 other Suburbans.

I do have a couple cars with darker towards the rear, either 35% front/20% rear or 35% front/20% back side/5% limo back window. Remember also that lighter interiors make the tint appear lighter, while a black interior will make the tint look darker (to the cops for example LOL).

Around here the cops have started carrying meters in many of their cars, and if it appears too dark they will pull you over and check it. Only time that's happened to me in recent years was a couple years ago, I had a 2005 Acura TL with light tint on the front doors, darker on the rears, and the kicker was: tinted windshield. So when the cop passed me, the whole interior looked dark, and he turned around to hassle me. He said "Your tint looks too dark", and asked to check it. I said sure because I knew he couldn't meter the windshield (the meter goes over the edge of the glass). He checked my window and it registered around 35% (forget the exact number) and he said "Oh that's strange, it looked darker" and let me go....he never looked at or mentioned the windshield

 

Just got one and it is either a $40 + $40 = $80 dollars for a fix it ticket or pay the fine. My fine is currently $283.00. It's my 9th tint ticket in 15 years. Highway Patrol can go to hell.