Tinted Glass: Add Shade and Style to Your Ride

Tinted glass can add a touch of style and shade to any car, from a family sedan to a rented limousine. Read on to learn how it works and how it's applied.

Car windows and windshields can keep out a lot of things: bugs, wind, snow, and obnoxiously fresh air. But if you want to keep things cooler and block out harmful UV rays, tinting film is the way to go. There are four main types of tinting film on the market:

• Dyed: Dyed films absorb the sun's light and heat, so that the natural flow of air around the car whisks it away from the glass and reduces how much heat penetrates the vehicle's interior. Dyed films are usually less expensive than other options, but may discolor over time.
• Metallic: In metallic films, extremely thin layers of reflective metals are sandwiched between layers of polyester. This type of tinting gives the car a slightly mirrored look and does an excellent job of blocking harmful rays and reducing interior heat. However, the metal in some of these films can slightly distort radio, phone, or GPS signals.
• Hybrid: Hybrid films are a combination of dyed and metallic materials, offering many of the benefits of both. For instance, combining a gray dye with a thin layer of titanium produces a window film that's neither too dark nor too reflective.
• Ceramic: Developed for NASA's space shuttles, ceramic films are extremely durable, scratch-resistant, and even available for windshields. Ceramic films are also popular for home windows, blocking out heat in the summer and holding it in during the winter.

Add style and shade to your car with tinted glass. Get the perfect look – choose from five windows on a standard size car, two windows on a standard size car, or seven windows on a standard size car.