What are factory-tinted windows?
Factory tint is simply a pigment in the glass that makes it look darker so it isn’t an actual film that’s installed. Factory tint comes from the factory that makes the vehicle and isn’t installed afterwards. Its main purpose is to give the occupants a sense of privacy.
Do factory-tinted car windows protect against heat and radiation as well as window tint film does?
No, certainly not, since factory tint is just pigmented glass. Although factory-tinted glass looks very similar to window tint film, it does not have the same benefits. Many customers believe that because their vehicle has factory tint they do not need to tint their car windows, but there is a huge difference between window tint film and factory tint. The main purpose of factory tint is privacy.
When it comes to blocking out harmful UV rays most glass blocks harmful UVB rays. UVA rays are the ones to worry about because they are the ones that can penetrate glass. Window tint film on your car windows can greatly reduce the risk of skin damage and block up to 99% of harmful UV rays.
Another reason window tint film is better is that it helps reject heat unlike factory tint.
Factory tinted car window
Factory tinted car window
Factory tint is created by adding pigment to the glass itself, giving it a darker look and letting less visible light pass through. It does not protect against the ultraviolet rays that are harmful to your skin. Factory tint lets through solar heat and UV rays, whereas window tint film keeps out much of the solar heat and harmful UV rays.
Car window tinted with film
Car window tinted with film
Window tint film reduces heat coming into the vehicle and rejects up to 99% of UV rays while the only benefit of factory-tinted glass is the extra privacy. A car left in the sun heats up very quickly and exposes passengers to harmful UV rays, which window tint film can help to stop. Window tint film can also help reduce fuel consumption because the air conditioning does not need to run as much. Compared with factory tint, window tint film keeps out much more of the solar heat and harmful UV rays.
Can you put window tint film over factory tint?
Yes, you can. When it comes to factory tinted windows on a vehicle, you can safely apply tint over the factory-tinted glass, and it is relatively easy to do. There are many types of tint available for cars today, and you don’t need to be stuck with factory tint that you don’t like.
But never try to tint over existing window tint film. If your car already has window tint film, the appropriate solution is to completely strip off the first window tint film and then add a new layer of window tint film.