Benefits of Window Tinting
There are plenty of ways to upgrade the appearance of your vehicle — you can replace your stereo, swap out your stock seats for luxurious models, redo your interior carpeting or give your exterior a new look with fresh paint and custom rims. When it comes to price, however, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective way to enhance your ride than with a window tint. Affordable, yet eye-catching, this simple application is sure to turn heads anywhere you go.
You likely see tinted car windows throughout your daily commute. This thin layer of film can adhere to both the exterior and interior of glass surfaces, including all your vehicle's windows and windshields. Window tinting immediately adds an element of style to any vehicle, regardless of make, model or year. Even though this sleek upgrade dramatically enhances the look of your car, it also provides several practical advantages that are separate from appearance. You may be surprised how many benefits are beneath the surface.
Why Do People Tint Their Windows?
Look at the vehicles parked in any lot, garage or street, and you'll lose count of just how many cars, trucks and SUVs have their windows and windshields coated with various degrees of tint. Window tinting is one of the many popular cosmetic upgrades car owners choose to have applied to their vehicles. Drivers may have specific reasons for getting their windows tinted, and unsurprisingly, different types of window tint accomplish these goals. If you're wondering what are the benefits of window tinting, consider the following advantages:
- Improved vehicle appearance
- Reduced glare distraction
- Protection from the sun
- Improved fuel efficiency
- Increased safety and security
Depending on which form of window tint you choose, you'll receive unique advantages that enhance the look, performance, comfort and safety of your car.
Tinting Enhances Your Vehicle's Appearance
Perhaps the most readily apparent benefit among the reasons to tint your windows and windshields is that it will instantly enhance the look of your car. Picture the striking contrast of black-tinted windows against a stark white vehicle, or even the ultra-sleek appearance of window tints that accentuate the dark color of your car's paint. From Jeeps and Jaguars to trucks and town cars, any type of vehicle can look sharp with window tinting.
When it comes time to purchase a new vehicle, every car owner hopes to get the maximum resale or trade-in value for their current ride. While window tinting isn't guaranteed to increase the current value of your vehicle, it could be a bonus that convinces a car dealer or private buyer to purchase your car. It's also convenient — some people may not want to go through the trouble of completing a tint application themselves.
You'll Also Save Energy and Fuel With Window Tinting
There are not many ways to enhance the look of your vehicle while simultaneously improving its performance. Tint, however, is the exception. Because these different types of window film applications can block varying levels of heat, they prevent the interior of your car from increasing in temperature, allowing you to save fuel by using your air conditioning less. Why should you tint your windows? Well, not only will this reduce the amount of energy your car exerts, but it may also help extend the life of your car's air conditioning system.
Window Tinting Protects Your Body From the Sun
No matter where you live, having a bottle of sunscreen on hand during outdoor activities is always a responsible decision. From picnics and playtime in the park to afternoons spent swimming, tanning and enjoying the fresh air, anytime you or your family come in contact with the sun's rays, it's smart to apply sunscreen to areas of skin that get exposure to direct sunlight. Many people don't realize these harmful streams of sunlight can cause bodily damage, even during your daily commute.
Believe it or not, you're likely getting exposed to some form of sun hazard while you drive or ride in a car during the daylight hours. Two types of ultraviolet radiation come from the sun — long wavelengths of ultraviolet A, or UVA, and short wavelengths of ultraviolet B, or UVB. All forms of UV light can be harmful to your skin and lead to serious issues like skin cancer. Any exposure to these rays, even through car windows, increases your chance of developing a health issue.
Your car windows and windshield attempt to protect you from the moment you put your car into drive. The glass around your vehicle is quite effective in blocking UVB rays from entering the interior. Although windshields also get treated to prevent UVA radiation from passing through, the side and rear windows are unfortunately not standardly equipped to stop these harmful rays. The more time you spend driving a vehicle during daylight hours, the more you're exposing your skin to this damaging radiation.
Although whatever side of your body is closest to the window will likely see the most damage, penetration of UV light from any glass source in your car has the potential to damage your skin permanently. Adding window tint is an affordable upgrade that also protects your well-being. You can apply window tint to any vehicle and actively block these UV rays, keeping you and your passengers safer during each drive. Ceramic, carbon, hybrid and metalized tints are ideal solutions for UVA and UVB prevention.
Window Tinting Also Protects Your Interior From Sun and Heat Damage
When it comes to damage from heat and sunlight, your body isn't the only concern to think about. These light intrusions can damage the interior of your vehicle as well. Ultraviolet light causes all colors to fade, including those within the interior of your car. The temperature inside your parked car can also increase up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the temperature outside. That means even on days in which there isn't much sun, heat can still be a damaging force on your interior.
Why settle for discolored dashboards, consoles and seat fabrics? Even if you have an all-leather interior, it can dry out and crack, ruining your luxurious appearance. If you want to protect your car's interior, you'll need some form of tint. Another of the advantages of window tinting is that any form of tint will cut down on the amount of damaging heat and UV light. A dyed tint is an efficient and affordable way to solve this issue, while a higher-quality ceramic tint will yield drastic reductions of the heat entering your car.
Tint Immediately Enhances Safety and Security
Consider all the valuable items that may be in your vehicle at any given time. You may store your purchases in the backseat as you spend the afternoon shopping around town. Your children may tuck their toys and games into the seatbacks. Even built-in equipment, like the stereo and entertainment systems, has substantial worth. If you're not careful, you could leave other common items, like GPS devices, cell phones, wallets, purses, car registration, garage door openers and spare keys unattended in the car.
No matter what it is, you should have the peace of mind that all your personal belongings are safe within your parked vehicle during any time of the day or night. Although car alarm systems may scare a thief off if they attempt a break-in, a window tint can help deter them from even targeting your vehicle. Applying tint to your car windows and windshields can decrease the visibility of the interior of your vehicle. Instead of giving onlookers an unobstructed view, it keeps your belongs concealed.
Another advantage of window tinting could be where you least expect it. Many people don't know their car's windshield is made from a different type of glass than the car's sunroof, side and rear windows. Glass manufacturers construct windshields with two pieces of laminated glass that have a vinyl inner lining between them. Sunroofs and other windows, however, use tempered glass. While these differences don't matter much during your drive, they can become a factor during car crashes.
Because the windshield has a vinyl layer separating the two slabs of glass, it keeps the windshield relatively intact during an accident. Unlike a house window, car side windows will not shatter into sharp shards. These windows are single panes of tempered glass designed to break into small pieces upon impact. The adhesiveness of window tint can keep these small pieces stuck to the film, preventing small glass pieces from scattering and becoming a hazard for passengers involved in the wreck.
Tinting Reduces the Distracting Glare From the Sun and Other Sources of Light
Safety should be your No. 1 priority every time you get behind the wheel of a car. You may be a responsible driver who always buckles up, comes to a complete stop at stop signs and looks twice for pedestrians, cycles and smaller vehicles before you take your foot off of the brake. No matter how safe a driver you are, however, one hazard may be putting the safety and security of all drivers on the road at risk — brightness and glare from sunlight.
Although many people would prefer to drive on a bright and sunny day than dealing with dark, rainy, foggy or snowy conditions, bright sunlight can be a severe, and even life-threatening, driving hazard. Drivers around the world face distracting driving conditions from sunlight that result in thousands of accidents per year. According to one study, bright sunlight increases the risk of life-threatening car crashes, regardless of other factors like alcohol consumption, the distance of the drive or adverse weather conditions. Results showed a 16 percent increase in accidents on bright days, compared to normal weather.
How are these unnecessary accidents occurring? Though an alert driver can react to road and traffic conditions more effectively, sunlight can impair vision dramatically. The brightness can cause errors in the perception of distance, size, speed, motion and positioning of objects like other vehicles. It could cause a driver to change their driving habits, or overreact. Even though you may think sunny days create easy driving conditions, this misperception can lead to an increase in car accidents.
Glare during sunrise and sunset can also create hazards for drivers, and unfortunately, even if you choose to drive during the night, artificial light can still impact your safety. Glare from headlights or headlamps from oncoming traffic or vehicles in your rearview mirror can decrease your visibility distance and delay your reaction and recovery time. The right tint for your windows and windshield can reduce the level of brightness and distracting glare on your daily drive.
How to Choose the Right Window Tint for Your Vehicle
When choosing a window tint film for your vehicle, it's best to first discover all the advantages and disadvantages of each tint option. There are five types of tint — dyed, metalized, hybrid, carbon and ceramic. Each of these films is specially designed to provide you with the efficient solutions you want at the price point you need.
- Dyed: Dyed window tint is the most cost-effective and darkest tinting option for those who want style and privacy at an affordable price. It will also block glare and heat from entering the car, freeing you from needless distractions and keeping your interior comfortable. This window treatment will fade over time due to UV light, and in some cases, the layers could separate from one another. Dyed window tint is ideal for those who want to cut the glare and cool the cabin of their vehicle.
- Metalized: Unlike dyed tint, metalized window tint won't fade. Several durable layers block UV radiation, glare and heat. The metallic particles embedded in the film strengthen the window and give it a shiny, matte finish. It costs a little more than dyed tint and could potentially interfere with the radio and cellular signals you send and receive. Metalized window tint is excellent for those who want a durable, lasting tint that gives their car windows a shiny finish.
- Hybrid: Can't decide between dyed or metalized tint? Hybrid window tint is the option you're looking for. Providing all the advantages of dyed and metalized tint without the drawbacks, hybrid window tinting will give you increased durability, won't disrupt your electronics usage and will prevent heat, glare and UV radiation from entering your car. This high-performing option is slightly more expensive than dyed tint, but its crisp, dark appearance makes it worth every penny.
- Carbon: Even though functionality is important, style is a top priority for many car owners. Those looking to invest in a practical window film that provides a premium appearance should look no further than carbon window tint. These tints resist fading and reduce heat, glare and UV rays. Its crowning feature is its matte-black finish that offers a sleek vibe, without the mirrored look of other tints. If you want to keep your stylish vehicle looking and feeling luxurious, carbon window tinting is for you.
- Ceramic: If you want to put style to the side and home in on quality, you should consider ceramic window tint. As the highest-quality window tint film of these five choices, ceramic film ensures you get what you pay for. Ceramic film absorbs twice as much heat as dyed and hybrid tints, while blocking glare and ultraviolet rays. This technologically advanced tint is highly shatter-proof and offers uncompromising visibility. If only the best will do, ceramic window tint is the right choice for you.
Get the Best Window Tint Films From Rvinyl
Every moment you spend in your car should be comfortable and relaxing. Unfortunately, standard car windows and windshields just can't accommodate all our needs. Brightness from sunlight and glare from headlights can distract even the best drivers. Intrusive heat and UV rays can not only damage the car's interior, but it can also harm the passengers. Hot commutes also require more air conditioning, which increases your weekly fuel expense. Thankfully, a simple window tint application can leave all these inconveniences in your rearview for good.
For over a decade, Rvinyl has provided DIY enthusiasts with the window films that perfectly fit their needs. Trust us — we know what it means to stick to a budget. Whether you're selecting tint for your sports car or for the older vehicle you're passing down to your kids, we keep all our tint applications priced affordably. We protect our products with a three-year warranty against cracking, peeling and fading, and will even ship many of our products to most U.S. locations for free.
Shop our exceptional variety of window tint kits, and discover just how easy it is to improve the appearance, performance and comfort of your car, truck or SUV. We're passionate about car customization and offer Rtint precut auto tint for nearly 50 different vehicle brands. We even have whole sheets available that will suit any other make or model. Don't squint into the hot sun any longer — grab an easy-to-install window tint kit from Rvinyl today!