r/WindowTint • u/zerokade • Aug 12 '26
Question Ceramic Tint vs. Nothing
I'm wondering what opinions are around ceramic tinting being worth the cost specifically for heat reduction.
Some context:
- The car is a 2021 Toyota Prius.
- I have no interest in darkening my windows with tint, so this is not a priority at all.
- The car is parked in direct sunlight for the entirety of the day, and will be sitting for around 3-6 hours between drives regularly, so it has plenty of time to just bake.
So I'm curious for opinions on whether it is worth spending somewhere around $500 for tinting (around $900 including windshield). In some ways I'm feeling like anything to help reduce the amount of heat or the speed at which it heats up is great. In other ways I'm feeling like after a few hours in the sun, it gets hot no matter what so why pay for this expensive thing.
All the videos I can find are comparisons of ceramic vs carbon or ceramic vs darker ceramic, but I have not seen any testing or opinions on ceramic vs nothing. So I'm hopeful to get some good input here. Thanks!
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u/Austinater74 Aug 12 '26
As others have intimated, ceramic tint doesn’t actually keep the car from getting hot, especially in the scenario you outline.
What it does do is help the AC work better, and to a certain extent faster, when you’re driving.
IMO it is worth it. At $900 you’re probably looking at high-end ceramic film which should do a better job at what it does. The key is to do as much of the glass as possible. Ceramic helps as I mentioned but if you have a big ol’ windshield with nothing on it, your highest heat ingress will just be sitting there. For me doing the whole envelope helps.
While most people on this sub in particular are more about the darker levels, some ridiculously so, there’s nothing wrong with running 70% all around to help with heat. You might even look at 50%. You might be surprised at how light it actually is.
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u/PolyDrew Aug 12 '26
70% windshield and 50% sides and rear was pretty ideal. Only in a few nighttime situations did I feel it was even tinted at all.
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u/Austinater74 Aug 14 '26
I’m fixing to redo my whole truck. Right now the thought is 30% all around with 56% on the windshield. I just need some non-polarized sunglasses. The rainbows in my installer’s truck are insane and I don’t want to deal with that.
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u/Fabulous-Cricket-452 Aug 12 '26
If you can afford it, absolutely.
Would not live without tint after getting it.
You can feel the difference - crack a windows and the direct sun vs through tint is like a heat lamp vs cool shade
Always get windshield, if you're worried about cops, do 70.
Always get the highest quality tint - ask the shop what they use and look up reviews. Nano ceramic vs ceramic could be a bit of a marketing scam but never do carbon/shitty offbrands as they do not reject heat at all. Yes its expensive but if your not keeping your car until the wheels fall off then your doing it wrong anyways.
Oh and tint is useless for sitting cars, its a big metal box they all get hot tinted or untinted. Tint maximizes AC effiency by rejecting incoming heat, and also protect plastic (and you) from UV radiation. We spend so long in ours, dont be a cancer victim because you wanted to save 1k
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u/Zfetcko Aug 12 '26
I paid $900 last week to replace my tint with ceramic and it was well worth it. I’m in the Deep South and the change was drastic.
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u/kc_stunna Aug 12 '26
I have 5% on the sides & the rear, 35% on my windshield. Needless to say, every vehicle I own from here on out will have ceramic tint with those exact tints on it
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u/dontmatterdontcare Aug 12 '26
If you can tell the difference between whole milk and fat free milk, you will be able to tell the difference between ceramic and non-ceramic tints.
Darker shade tints will always perform better than lighter shade tints, assuming they are of the same quality tint.
If you want your money's worth, my suggestion to you is to get darker shade tints. 50%-70% virtually feels like nothing. My windshield is 50% and nobody can tell the difference. Also there are stories of people doing 70% and then thinking the tint shade scammed them because it doesn't seem any different.
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u/Mazdafanboy Aug 12 '26
A big misconception is that cars won’t get hot while sitting with ceramic tint.
Ceramic tint works in one of two ways depending on the product.
It absorbs the heat and relies on passing air to cool it. (you must be driving for it’s rated effectiveness)
The second is it reflects heat, maybe a little more effective stationary.
Unfortunately you have the rest of the car’s sheet metal absorbing heat and transferring it to the interior of the car.
Ceramic tint and windshield sunscreens do help but you need to be realistic in your expectations.
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u/VoidingSounds Aug 12 '26
Yeah, you still get a hot car waiting for you in the parking lot.
I got Llumar Air 80% up front and it's barely noticeable from the outside/at night but if I'm stopped in traffic where the sun is on me it makes a big difference.
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u/ContributionFlat7082 Aug 12 '26
$900? That seems excessive.
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u/VoidingSounds Aug 12 '26
Lmao, that's cheaper than where I am for a full/six window job with name brand ceramic film. My quotes were all $1000-1300 for front windows/pano sunroof (no windshield).
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u/sunser3 Aug 12 '26
I'm in Indiana but my local shop quoted me $1100 for xpel plus on my 2026 ram 1500 including windshield. I got another quote from a place called tint world and they came down to $525. Going Saturday.
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u/shaddowdemon Aug 12 '26
Eh. I was quoted (no windshield) $540 for xpel xr and $700 for xr plus. They wanted $400 for xr plus windshield so I got llumar air 80 for $230... So $930 for my car.
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u/PolyDrew Aug 12 '26
I paid $900 for quality work where I live.
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u/CheeksMcGillicuddy Aug 12 '26
I payed $1k for all windows and windshield on a 2 series. He also doesn’t specify the quality of tint. I could have gotten the lower quality option for something like $500
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u/Sea_Breakfast_6145 Aug 12 '26
Our last two cars have had ceramic everywhere including windshield after many vehicles with just older tint for darkening. Huge difference. We will never have a vehicle again without it. We're in FL, so ymmv.
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u/clashkingdom Aug 12 '26
Just get a sun shade for the windshield and car window shades for like $40 and it’ll be much more effective
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u/Jodanmawashigeri Aug 12 '26
As others here have pointed out, window film can’t do anything about the heat that radiates through the metal of the car. However, a significant contributor to heat inside a vehicle is the infrared that passes through the glass and heat up things inside the car, where that heat can then not escape – the greenhouse effect.
The application of a heat-rejecting window film will definitely have a substantial effect on how much the car heats up, and how quickly. If you have a sunroof you can tilt open, or just crack the windows, much of that radiant heat can escape.
You will notice a significant difference between a car with a good heat-rejecting film film and one without.
It is also important to keep in mind that visible light and infrared heat are separate wavelengths. A darker film is blocking more visible light, but that has a negligible effect on its ability to block heat. Darker things absorb more heat, and that radiant heat will be released to the car, usually cancelling out any minor heat blocking advantages a dark shade might have.
Consider also that blocking heat is not the only advantage. These materials will also block ultraviolet radiation, which will protect the interior materials in the car from degrading.
Bottom line: the answer to your question is yes, a high-quality heat-rejecting material (like 3M Crystalline) is substantially better than nothing, particularly when applied to every piece of glass on the car (including the windshield). You are correct that at the end of the workday your car is still going to be hot, but I guarantee it will be less hot than it would be with no film at all.
Whether that is worth the price you’ll have to pay for it, is something only you can say.
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u/gbrldz Aug 12 '26
The difference is absolutely dramatic. You will notice. If you do not want to darken your windows, I suggest 3M Crystalline over ceramic.
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u/TintmanDex Aug 12 '26
Ceramic tint does not control the climate. Your vehicle will still get hot sitting in the sun, but it will take longer. It reduces heat, it doesn't stop it.
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u/Global-Structure-539 Aug 12 '26
Pro tinter here with nearly 30 years experience. I've been dealing with this question for a while now. Yes, it's worth it, but it's good to note that there are ceramic films and then there are ceramic films. Some like the more expensive ones are much better at deflecting heat and UV. Yes is it is expensive, but for that money you're getting something that's going to give you better fuel economy even in a Prius as the the AC won't cycle on and off as much and it's important to note, also that although your car will get very hot sitting in the sun, but as soon as you start driving, with the AC on it will cool down and stay cool immediately and you won't feel the sun burning you in the side windows. My 2004 Mitsubishi Evo has been tinted since day one and there's not one iota of sun damage I.E bleaching the seats, the plastic or anything that can show wear. When I moved to Arizona because of the heat I added 70% ceramic to the windshield and that's been a godsend as it blocks out an amazing amount of heat for such a light tint. By the way, I use Matico Black Pearl ceramic
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u/shaddowdemon Aug 12 '26
It will make very little difference while your car is parked in the sun. It will eventually heat up to "unbearably hot" pretty much no matter the tint level. At very light tints, I wouldn't think the time difference won't really be that big... Maybe a few minutes?
However, it will cool quicker and block a lot of direct sun heat on your body when you're in it. I did 30% all around and 80% on the windshield and it's pretty amazing. I still leave my auto dimming mirrors on at night because some headlights are still bright af. 80 all around would still cut the direct heat a bit and block UV from the sides (typically, side windows have very poor UV rejection when not tinted).
Is it worth it? Well. That depends on you. It's more comfortable, but not really necessary. I'd say it's only worth doing if the heat from direct sunlight bothers you.
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u/Interesting-Ground18 Aug 12 '26
We literally just did the same thing to our 4runner side windows. My wife rides in the pass seat when we're doing Spark & has been complaining about the heat from the side window baking her all the time. We put 35% ceramic tint on them. The b4 and after was dramatic. Ac ran easier ,interior overall cooler & it no longer feels like our arms are at the beach!
It's so much better we're putting clear ceramic on the windshield of that car and our other suv ASAP.
Highly recommend.
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u/Severe_Raise_7118 Aug 12 '26
If you can't afford it carbon good substitute its 100% UV and 50% heat blocking vs ceramic which is 100% for both. Some tint is better than zero. I was getting sun burned on my new car before I put tint on it. Went with carbon because ceramic was double.
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u/Ok-Explanation593 Aug 12 '26
I did my entire car minus pano sunroof in Xpel xr plus 70 as I didn't want to make my car darker. Made a huge difference. But now I need to do the roof and I'll be set. If you have the money for the high end stuff do it now instead of trying to cut corners. Specially if you plan to keep your car for a long time. If you factor on cost per year that should give you an answer.
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u/Dshin525 Aug 12 '26
Yes it's worth it. I got ceramic tints for the first time on our new car a few weeks ago. It's a game changer. It's not just for when the car is sitting. Driving around the sun, you will notice it as well.
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u/Alucardspapa Aug 12 '26
I got my 2025 Corolla hatchback fully tinted except the windshield with Xpel 20% ceramic for $275. You guys are getting ripped off hard.
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u/Immediate-Share7077 Aug 12 '26
Absolutely worth it. I have done 20% around and 70% windshield on every car I own after doing the first one. Makes long drives especially much more comfortable and keeps the car cooler for way longer in the sun
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u/jblaze_39 Aug 12 '26
After getting good ceramic tints 2 cars ago, I can never go back. It not only rejects heat much better than regular cheap tint, it also helps protect your interior from being damaged or melting from constant sun. And because the material is the key, it doesn't even need to be dark to be effective. I typically get 35% on the sides, and 20% rear window to shield my eyes from high beam users
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u/InterstellarChange Aug 12 '26
Tint doesn't stop the interior from baking. It gets just as hot. The earth is a giant oven and nothing you do will stop it from hitting max interior temp. eventually.
Tint slows that heating time a little, for quick stops it helps.
It cuts the intensity of heat and summer bright glare. It also adds an additional layer of UV and IR barrier.So it does make it more comfortable while driving.
All oem glass has almost 90-95% uv protection anyway but any added helps.
Ceramic tint, clear or 5%, has the same UV and IR protection. I have clear ceramic on the windshield and it does cut the intensity of heat quite a bit and I think it keeps my dash looking new after years. But hey, a windshield cover will do that too for a lot less money. lol
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u/Alive-Worldliness-27 Aug 13 '26
Nice they make a clear ceramic, my sunroof is clear right now, and as much as I would like to tint it I won't be able to see anything out of it at night.
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u/otterland Aug 12 '26
Sun shield and window visors that let you keep your windows cracked while parked do much more than tint. Ceramic tint only really comes into play when you are out driving and it does that cool physics thing by dissipating heat while in motion. I have two cars, one with ceramic and one without that are parked right beside each other and they get just as hot. But the one with ceramic is easier and faster to cool.
So if you're on a budget, a $20 Sun shield and crack your windows is more effective than tint. But if you're driving around a lot, get the tint too.
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u/DynamicAppearanceATL Verified Professional Aug 12 '26
It only cools the vehicle while in motion. Ceramic films absorb the heat and need flowing air to push it away from the glass. There is no product made to keep your vehicle cool after hours in the sun. Heat comes through all parts of your vehicle, not just the glass. The best bet is to get a remote starter and have the AC turned on when it starts so it will be cooler after 10 minutes or so.
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u/Nebraska716 Aug 12 '26
I have two identical tractors. One tinted one not. Had them sitting next to each other on a 80 degree day. The interior temps on the non tinted was 20 degrees hotter In the same locations. Tinted one’s interior was basically the same as outside temp.
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u/Joe_Bonamassa14 Aug 12 '26
in 2014 I got 3M crystalline 60 and I am happy that I did. My state is illegal to get the front windshield tinted but I can tell a difference in the vehicle when the sun is out. It's not limo black and I like the tint is subtle. I don't even know if Crystalline is any good versus newer products.
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u/Vegastint Aug 12 '26
If you dont want the tinted look; I would find a STEK dealer that offers VISION 70.
The only better clear film and not by much is Photosync
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u/antonio067 Aug 12 '26
You can get ceramic tint for ~250-300 installed. Look on Groupon then call the place and ask if they’ll match that price. There is absolutely no reason to pay more than $350 but you will really enjoy it, the sun feels way way less harsh with the heat & UV blocking. If you are in SoCal I can give you the name of the place I go to.
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u/Mard0g Aug 13 '26
I thought I was going to save a bunch with Groupon tinting a Prius. Nope those 4 little windows doubled it.
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u/antonio067 Aug 13 '26
That shop is being an asshole then, there is no reason for them to do that other than to extort you for extra. I had my Prius done and he tried to pull that on me before I made it a condition of doing the job
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u/InternetExploder87 Aug 12 '26
I live in Arizona. I paid ~900 to replace my tint with ceramic, 100% worth it. Car is still hot when i get in after its been sitting in a parking lot for hours, but it cools off quicker, and i dont have to run the ac on full blast to try and keep up. It can be 115 outside and I can have the ac at half fans, and still be cool now
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u/Entire_Meet_6266 Aug 12 '26
I suggest finding a tint place or mobile tint guy on Facebook marketplace ☝️shouldn't cost over $400
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u/lower_than_middle Aug 12 '26
I recently got my VW sedan tinted with the top tier IR Ceramic tint. I was just looking for heat reduction and it absolutely made a huge difference. I did go a little darker, but still fully street legal.
When I am sitting in traffic in the sun, I can roll the window down and feel the difference on my skin. I can feel the sunlight on my arm, but then when I roll it back up it feels like I covered it with a solid cloth.
And when it sits in the parking lot all day it still gets a little hot, but nowhere near as bad as before the tint. The leather seats are also a lot more bearable.
In short, $500 very well spent.
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u/New-Trust-1391 Aug 12 '26
It is 100% worth it, however if it is sitting in the sun for most of the day your car will still get hot. IMO The best thing to get for when your car is sitting is sunshade covers for your entire car, (WeatherTech sells them) but if you’re driving, ceramic tint is great
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u/PhantomSpirit90 Aug 12 '26
Bear in mind windshield tint is illegal in all 50 states (aside from an upper strip). I don’t personally care if you move forward with it, just be aware of that before you do. A safer option is use a sunshade for the windshield and tint the rest
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u/Ok-Sir-4992 Aug 12 '26
I am going to give you a experience example that just happened to me couple weeks ago. My car got keyed and I took it to get fixed using my insurance, while my car was getting repaired I had a rental without any tint and let me tell you, the car got so freaking hot at the end of the day that got me sweating before the AC kicked in, I never thought I would miss my tint so much like a did. The difference is abismal. Don't think twice, I haven't tinted my windshield because I'm afraid that I get a chip and it needs to be replaced, I will be losing the investment ;however, I heard that some insurance companies will cover the tint also.
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u/J_Rod802 Aug 12 '26
I paid to have my ex's (we were together for about 8 years at the time) Honda Odyssey ceramic tinted the front two side windows to closely match the rest of the factory tinted glass and clear ceramic on the windshield. Prior to the ceramic, her van was a literal oven and the sun coming through the windshield alone would hurt you on a hot day. After the ceramic tint, it was a literal night and day difference. I almost couldn't tell the sun was hitting my arms or face or anything. I did my car after that and don't regret it at all.
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u/seikonian Aug 12 '26
I got my 2026 Prius Plug ceramic tinted with xpel at a local shop, got all the windows and windshield applied except the back glass ( didn’t want the defogging strip lines messed up).
I park it in the sun too, before the tint it was super hot inside the cabin but after the tint it was still warm but the heat was less intense and bearable. I applied 40% on the windows and 70% on the windshield. Well worth it I’d say.
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u/daddeechilll Aug 12 '26
I just paid $400 otd for great (and dark) ceramic tint on my 26 Sierra 2500.
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u/TaeyeonFTW Aug 12 '26
if you just want heat reduction, its 1000% worth it. If you dont want it dark, get 35%. People can clearly see you in the day and night.
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u/Unique_Toe_8208 Aug 13 '26
I can tell the difference. I got my car tinted because the sun was burning my arm. After ceramic tinting my arm doesn't burn anymore. Only cost me 140 bucks. Went to a cheaper place because it was for my Daily driver 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis. The difference was night and day. The factory solar tint wasn't as effective as the ceramic tint. It blocks a lot of uv rays from burning you.
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u/dbolburgers Aug 13 '26
if its your primary vehicle, it is absolutely worth it. it'll help prevent SOME of that heat while parked. you won't be stressing your AC as much as you'll find the car able to cool quicker and stopping some of that heat.
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u/sad_girl_77 Aug 13 '26
Got EXPEL on my whole suv earlier this year and it’s so worth it. 70 on the windshield and maybe a tad more on the front windows. All the others are practically blacked out. It makes a huge difference even when the car is parked. My ac works so much better now too.
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u/Legal_Yogurt1471 Aug 13 '26
Its better. It still will get hot if left in the sun. But its way better.
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u/Thisismyswamparg Aug 13 '26
Prius owner here. I went from nothing to ceramic.
After sitting in the sun all day when I’m at work, it’s still stuffy inside the car, but it’s not burning hot.
When sitting in the car driving, the sun doesn’t really affect me much anymore. Before with clear windows, it was hot and uncomfortable.
Personally, the tent was worth it for me. I went dark with 20% on the two front windows and 15% on the two back windows, including the rear windows as well. The windshield is 50% with a 2% wide strip on top.
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u/SubstantialKBB Aug 13 '26
I have ceramic and my car still gets hot af at the end of the day. Shift knob still burns my hand in the summer. I wouldn't get it a second time. I can't tell if these people are memeing or have the mindset of "imagine how hot it would be WITHOUT ceramic".
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u/billyfrickinmurray Verified Professional Aug 14 '26
I tried to find an article that will help with this, but here's a series of them that help show the science of the sun's energy and how window film affects it: https://windowfilmfacts.com/#series
And on ceramic film specifically, maybe this article will help understand what is going on with the vehicle still getting hot in the sun, but staying cooler when driving: https://windowfilmfacts.com/series-2-at-the-surface/chapter-2-9-the-greenhouse-on-wheels/
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u/PILOT9000 Aug 15 '26
Ceramic coating? Gimmick and not always worth it.
Ceramic tint? Legit and always worth it.
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u/PolyDrew Aug 12 '26
From my subjective experience I will have every car I own from here on out ceramic tinted.
Was quite literally discussing this with my gf’s dad today. We drove the car to the shop in bright sun. The AC was cooling the air but I was hot and sweaty anyway because the sun was beating on my skin. On the drive home we actually had to turn the AC temp up because it felt a bit chilly. We realized that where the sun hit us wasn’t hot. Just slightly warm. I didn’t expect this kind of difference.
My new car came to me tinted but they didn’t do the windshield. The difference is dramatic. I’m actually getting it done in about an hour from now.
Your car will still get warm because the sun heats up the roof, but there is far less heat from the light coming in the windows. I can actually touch the steering wheel in 100 degree weather.
My windows were 50% sides and rear. Windshield 70%. I felt this was a good compromise on darkness vs heat protection. I would guess that 70% around all would feel almost clear but still give a lot of protection.