I'm thinking of getting my windows tinted -- well, as much as you can in Michigan, anyway -- including a strip across the top of the windshield. But what's that stuff at the top of the windshield behind the mirror? And would it hurt anything if it were covered with a strip of tinting?
Those dots are "supposed" to provide some shade, but it doesn't work very well. It serves no other purpose, so it's perfectly OK to cover them up.
They actually are designed purely for aesthetics, to make the rearview mirror look better from the outside. Not for shade. Cover em up.
Well, -I- think it's for glare reduction when you look in the mirror . But to each his own interpretation of function. It's safe to put the tinting over it.
Ask a windshield installer what its for. Its not for glare reduction, its simply for appearances sake. Simply believing something is true does not make it so
Remember though the tint might not stick as well in the area with the dots. It is not a smooth surface so it might look kinda funky from the outside of the car.
I thought it is for glare reduction because the two shades (driver and passenger) doesn't cover that middle part when then sun is hitting the windshield. It has helped me before in this situation.
The true purpose for those dots is to catch lint from towels so it isn't left in your safety area of your field of vision after you clean the inside of the window.
They are for glare reduction. Here is a link to an aftermarket version called Suntamer, so you can add more if you want! http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?...2397&cid=61 "You'll see overhead signs and changing traffic lights, but you won't be blinded by the glare of the sun sneaking between your visors."
I've been told that most modern windshields contains a reflective layer to stop heat (and/or UV) to enter the car. The problem is that this layer also blocks signals (doohickeys for automatic toll booths and to some extent GPS signals). The "shaded" area around the mirror does not have this layer, and thus will not block these signals. And it's very parctical to put a GPS antenna or other stuff behind mirror, out of view. Stein Tore Currently owner of a 2005 Peugeot 1007. Have ordered a Prius with estimated delivery mid September...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vdubstress @ Jun 10 2007, 06:43 PM) [snapback]459384[/snapback]</div> I had a strip put across top of windshield, surprisingly the tint film stuck and it looks OK. I agree with Michgal007, the dots behind mirror provide shade for the space between sun visors.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vic Doucette @ Jun 10 2007, 03:48 PM) [snapback]459255[/snapback]</div> They cut around that on my tint job. The tint goes right up to the outer edge of the dots.
