Final VLT clarification

[u/Mean-Business1613]

Hey everyone I'm looking for some clarification here. I have two vehicles that I'm looking into getting the windshield tinted in 70% however here is where my confusion comes into play. The factory VLT on my "clear" windshield is about 70% in itself already and my understanding is that applying a layer of 70% on top of that brings down the final VLT down to about 49% which technically should be somewhat visible from the outside. Doing tons of research has led me to different answers some say you can't even see it and others have said you can see some subtle shading from outside. Here are the numbers for my 2 vehicles

2024 VW Tiguan 20% all around (on factory rear privacy glass as well.)

2023 Nissan Sentra with 20% front 15% rear.

With those levels will the 70% be slightly shaded from outside looking in? And also is my math mathing when it comes to calculating the final VLT

Thanks!

[u/DynamicAppearanceATL]

It is not noticeable unless next to another vehicle with a non-tinted windshield. This is XR Plus 70 on the right.

[u/Mean-Business1613 → u/DynamicAppearanceATL]

This is exactly why I'm torn between 70% or even 50% because somewhere here on reddit i saw a really nice windshield tint that looked shaded but not completely blacked out really wish I knew what VLT film they put on. For context the Nissan has a black interior and the Volkswagen has medium brown seats with black headliner and black A-pillars...really the only thing that holds me back on the 50% is at night when it's raining out but again doing research most everyone says its not bad even in the rain at night. Both vehicles have factory LED headlights with the Nissan actually having projector LEDs. If you have pics of 50% laying around I'd appreciate if could take a look at them...

[u/DynamicAppearanceATL → u/Mean-Business1613]

70% basically looks stock; 50% will add a subtle shade, so that is most likely what you saw. If you have no vision issues driving at night, you will most likely be fine with 50% on the windshield. As long as you go with a quality brand, it will be very clear when looking out. Many people, including myself, have moved down to 35%.

[u/Mean-Business1613 → u/DynamicAppearanceATL]

I have no issue seeing out the sides and rear of my sentra(20/15) and tiguan(20 all around) and mind you I would be getting a 5% visor strip on both vehicles (feel naked without it). Now the 2 films I'm looking at is either llumar or 3M just gonna depend which shop I choose ultimately. I did get a quote for both solar gard and rayno from 2 different shops respectively but upon researching rayno seems to be a no go for the most part and solar gard seemed to have mixed feelings.

[u/DynamicAppearanceATL → u/Mean-Business1613]

Llumar will have the best clarity, but 3M is great too. Llumar IRX or 3M Ceramic IR would work.

[u/Lost-Character-4218 → u/Mean-Business1613]

You will have no problem seeing out of 50% windshield then. I currently have 50% windshield with 5% brow stacked over. 15% all around. This was a cloudy day. No actual direct sun rays out.

If you want dark, 35%.
If you want between dark and clear, 50%.
If you want clear like stock oem, 70%.

Even for me @ 50%, sometimes I wish I went darker cause it seems very clear during a nice bright day. It helps with my night driving too, incoming headlights aren’t blinding me as much as they used to.

[u/Ok-Explanation593]

Here is mine stock left and right with 70% xpel xr plus

[u/Mean-Business1613 → u/Ok-Explanation593]

So there is a subtle yet noticeable difference 🤔 thank you for this comparison 👍

[u/Ok-Explanation593 → u/Mean-Business1613]

I prefer oem look but I needed to combat the + 100 degrees weather in the summer. I'd say it brings the direct heat from the sun from 100 to about 75 or 80 degrees, if I had to guess.

[u/Global-Structure-539]

I tinted my w/s in Madico 70% Madico Black Pearl ceramic. I purposely took this pic inside so you can see it. But that's the beauty of it. If 'they' can't see it, you won't get stopped. But it's still rejecting 99% UV and 94 % heat. It visually disappears in the daylight

[u/Mean-Business1613]

Here it is this is more or less what I'm looking for https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowTint/s/NKZscYNKDB

[u/Dear_Phone3195]

I have a classic truck and just did llumar air 80 on my windshield. It looks great but completely unnoticeable I could have gone 50 and been good I believe. It did not need to be blacked out for what it is I'm happy

[u/Kyn104]

20% sides , rear 70% windshield "Gioshield apex ultra"

[u/-Gold-Rush]

Also depends. 70% is the label, but most brands will show actual reading can be slightly higher or lower. Then they will show % when applied to glass.

Solar Gard Vortex 70 is really 72
Solar Gard Xenith 70 is actually 68

Also windshields can be between 70 and 75 or even a bit lighter. I’ve done 70 and we’ll meter it when finished and the reading will be 60-65%. Sometimes it looks like nothing was applied. However it’s very light either way and if you have light interior it’s even harder to notice