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Night Driving With Tinted Windows

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by lowbone, Jul 22, 2007.

  1. lowbone

    lowbone Junior Member

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    I got no response for this at prius online so I thought I would try here. I am considering installing tinted windows on my 07 Prius mainly for heat reduction but I have to admit that I like the way they look. I am a little concerned about night driving. The windshield won't be tinted but everything else will. Have those of you with tinted glass experienced difficulty seeing out of the side and rear windows? Does it make it more difficult to see things in your rear-side view mirrors? Any feedback on this will be appreciated.
     
  2. PriusTouring07

    PriusTouring07 New Member

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    On two of my other cars, I've Limo tint on all windows and very dark tint on my windshield (illegal) and I've no problem seeing at night. I'm putting Limo tint on all windows and lite tint on the windshield of the Prius, as soon as I get it.
     
  3. Ehash

    Ehash New Member

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    I've had tint on all of my cars, and have noticed NO difference in my ability to drive at night. It sure helps with the heat here in Florida (and it sure looks good on the black Prius!) so I would recommend it 100%, with NO drawbacks or difficulties with driving.
     
  4. JaviNOS

    JaviNOS Mod Freak

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    I have tint around the whole car... the widshield tint is lighter than every other... to parallel park sometimes when I want to get really close to the street corner I lower my windows to have a better look using the mirrors..

    this happens almost never so... :)
    no problems while driving
     
  5. Jeffgb

    Jeffgb New Member

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    I had tinting installed on my VW beetle in Missouri (35%) because I was getting ready to move to Phoenix.

    Best thing ever. In Arizona, window tinting and working AC are more important elements of the car than, say, the steering wheel.

    I moved to Miami and then back to Kansas City. I just bought a new Prius and had the tinting added before I even took delivery. I am never getting a car without it again.

    The laws vary from state to state concerning what is allowed, how dark, and what windows. It used to be, in Mo, that you could not have the front seat side windows tinted. They did away with that. As far as I know, there are no states that allow the winshield to be tinted.

    I have never had any trouble seeing out the windows. I like the fact that it is hard for others to see in.
     
  6. koa

    koa Active Member

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    I haven't tinted my new vehicles yet but probably will. My old truck had a metallic tint (silver) and the old Camry had non-reflective tint. The reflective tint tends to reflect lights from gauges etc on the inside of the windows which might bother you. I would have to roll down the windows to see better at night when driving up a winding mountain road with no street lights. It would be very hard to see the turns through the tint. This is why I keep holding off tinting along with my daughter is learning how to drive now.
     
  7. johnford

    johnford Old Junior Member

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    While it is not legal to put a darker tint on the front windshield, it is legal to put a UV blocker tint which is virtually clear, but keeps the "nasty" stuff from our sun off the dash and I think it keeps a lot of heat out too. I have a 7" dark border at the top of my windshield also which I would never do without. Seldom ever need to use the visors any more..... jf
     
  8. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    Something I had not thought of, but brought up by my brother who had a vehicile with tinted windows (make and model unspecified). At night, the problem he had was the internal reflection off the window. He would see a reflection of himself on the window, making it look like another car was sitting RIGHT NEXT to him. It was so unnerving that he drove with the windows rolled down whenever possible. Even after several months, he never got used to it. When time was up on the lease or rental or whatever, he got rid of it as quickly as possible.

    So, consider internal reflections. I guess one would have to get a good size piece of tint and try it out under your own actual driving and lighting conditions.
     
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  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The only issues I've ever had was when parallel parking. I often need to roll down the window and look outside the frame to see how close I am to the curb. Likewise if the street is really dark I might have a little harder time seeing how close I am to the car behind me but simply looking outside the window does the trick. Other than that I've never had any complaints with tinted windows.
     
  10. ServoScanMan

    ServoScanMan Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowbone @ Jul 22 2007, 09:59 AM) [snapback]483125[/snapback]</div>
    I have both sides and rear window tinted as dark as they legally can be in Texas. I actually like it better because it helps cut down the bright lights in my rear view mirrors. I am not having a problem driving at night with the tinted windows.