Picture this: You’re on a road trip or a leisurely drive along San Antonio’s streets dotted with trees and lined with beautiful architecture. But as you cruise along, you feel your ride’s cabin getting warmer as the sun’s rays penetrate its windows. As a result, you bump up your car’s air conditioning to a higher cooling level. Every time you use a conventional car’s AC in hot conditions, its fuel economy can drop by over 25%. Fortunately, the best tint for car windows can block much of the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays.

It can also help reduce sun glare and increase privacy. But with so many auto tinting products claiming they can do all that, how do you pick the right one for your vehicle? We’ll tell you about the features to look for in this guide, so please read on.

Protection From the Sun’s Infrared Heat

Infrared heat or radiation is the primary type of energy that the Earth receives from the sun. Indeed, experts estimate that infrared accounts for 54% of the sun’s radiation. The rest consist of visible light (39%), which the eyes can see, and ultraviolet or UV rays (7%), which can burn the skin.

That means over half of the sun’s rays that enter your car windows are in the form of heat. This is especially noticeable in San Antonio, the Lone Star State’s third hottest major city.

So, if your primary goal for getting automotive tint is to block the sun’s harsh heat, your best option is one that provides infrared heat protection.

That’s precisely what the 3M ceramic window films can do for you: they can block infrared heat by as much as 95%. So, with these on your windows, you can stay comfortably cool inside your vehicle. You may not have to keep setting the AC to its highest cooling level, helping you keep your car fuel-efficient.

If you want the same benefits at home, don’t worry; you can also get ceramic residential window films from 3M.

Superior UV-Blocking Feature

Windows glass can protect against most UVB rays but doesn’t block all UVA rays, which can cause premature skin aging.

By law, only vehicle windshields often undergo treatment that lets them filter out UVA rays. The same rule doesn’t generally apply to side and rear windows.

The problem is that solar UV rays are so powerful they burn the skin and degrade fabrics, plastics, and metals. They can dry out car seat covers and turn them brittle while fading interior surfaces.

The good news is that the best tints for car windows, including the 3M Ceramic IR Series, block up to 99.9% of UV light. It also delivers a total Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of up to 1000+, whereas the highest a sunscreen can give is 100.

SPF measures how well a sunscreen can protect the skin from UVB rays, the type that burns the skin. The higher the number beside it, the more protection it can give. So, 3M Ceramic IR tints provide over ten times more protection than SPF 100 sunscreens.

Eye Protection With Glare Reduction

Aside from its heat, the sun also contributes to glare that can make driving uncomfortable, even downright challenging. When too much light enters the eyes, it can interfere with your vision.

Glare can be a road hazard because it’s distracting, uncomfortable, disabling, and sometimes even blinding. Regardless of the effect, it can impair your driving capabilities.

Fortunately, the best tint for car windows can significantly minimize glare. For instance, the 3M Ceramic IR Series reduces glare by up to 93%.

Metal-Free

Metallic window films may look fantastic. However, one of their most significant drawbacks is that they can interfere with radio signals. They can cause poor cellphone and GPS reception.

By contrast, ceramic films, like the 3M Ceramic IR Series, are metal-free. As a result, you can rest assured they won’t interfere with your electronics.

Keep Things Private

Do you want to darken your windows to improve the privacy inside your car? If so, you can do that with high-quality automotive window tint. However, you must still adhere to tinting laws governing the allowed tint percentage in the state.

Failure to follow the state’s tinting laws can result in you getting pulled over by the police. You may have to pay a fine and have your too-dark tints removed or replaced with lighter ones.

The easiest way to ensure you remain on the good side of the law is to work with auto tinting experts. As professionals, they have a complete understanding of Texas’s ever-evolving tinting laws. They can assist you as you decide how (legally) dark you want your car windows to be.

Reputable tint installers also use innovative computer software that lets you “preview” how dark or light tint levels are. This can help give you a better idea of what a certain percentage can look like on your vehicle.

Limited Lifetime Warranty

The best tint for car windows comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It guarantees that the product is free from material and manufacturing defects for as long as you own it. So if it fails for these reasons, the manufacturer will replace it free of charge.

Note that manufacturers often require professional window tinting technicians to install their products. After all, this ensures proper and safe product installation.

3M Ceramic IR window films are a perfect example of automotive window films with a limited lifetime warranty. With these on your windows, you can rest easy knowing they’re guaranteed to be defect-free.

Invest in the Best Tint for Car Windows

The best tint for car windows delivers superior protection against the sun’s infrared and UV radiation. It also safeguards against blinding glare, boosts privacy, and doesn’t interfere with radio signals. To top it off, it has a limited lifetime warranty.

You can expect all those perks from the 3M Ceramic IR Series. And here at Fletch Window Tint, we specialize in its application. You can rely on our over 30 years of experience delivering top-notch services.

So, contact us today. We’re excited to hear from you and give you your free quote!