If you have been looking into some dark tints for your car windows lately, you might have considered 15% and 5% tints. How dark are these tints? Can you use one of them for the other? I’ll tell you all about them in my 15 vs. 5 tint breakdown.
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15% vs. 5% Tint
15% Tint
The 15% tint is a pretty dark shade. You can keep out 85% of available light from the car by putting them on. So, you can expect a posh, sleek look on your car. The UV ray and heat blockage capability are almost similar to 5% tints. So, you won’t notice much difference there.
Let’s get to the part for which most of you are reading this piece; how much dark is 15% tint? Only your silhouette will be visible on a sunny day when you sit inside. The interior appears virtually obscure from the outside if the sky is unclear. During the night, the tint is almost as dark as a 5% one. You can’t tell them apart unless you know for sure.
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Therefore, the 15% tint can be an excellent pick if privacy is your primary concern. You can drive comfortably, knowing that nobody can see you from the outside. This is a great plus for those who often travel with family. You won’t have to worry about creepy passers-by and have the freedom to be totally yourself.
15% tinted windows will also give you a sense of security that will make you feel comfortable leaving your stuff in the car. You want to use the gas station restroom but don’t want to take your bag with you. Leave it in the backseat. Since the tint is dark enough, potential intruders can barely see anything inside. As a result, they won’t be much interested in breaking into your car.
Last but not least, don’t forget to check into your state automotive tint laws. 15% is not allowed in a lot of states, but if you happen to live in a locality where it’s legal, you can consider it for your back passenger windows and rear windows.
5% Tint
The 5% tint is even darker than the 15% one. No surprise there, huh? The gorgeously dark windows do create an aura of glamor around your car. You won’t find many car enthusiasts who would disapprove of the aesthetic appeal that comes with the 5% tint.
You can imagine that you would not have any doubts over your privacy if you put 5% tints on your car windows. Regardless of the outside conditions, the windows remain pitch-black. I can assure you that you will not see anything inside. Do you want to block out the outside view completely? Getting a 5% tint for your windows should get the job done.
As I was saying earlier, the probability of somebody breaking into your car substantially decreases if the interior remains invisible to the outside. If potential intruders don’t know what they will get after forcing their way into the car, they won’t feel much motivated to risk getting caught.
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To get the best 5% tint experience, I’ll recommend choosing ceramic window tints. The darkness really dazzles in these types of films. You can also choose hybrid tints, but I’d advise you to stay away from metalized and dyed films. The quality of these films is often disappointing, and they will likely fail to deliver the perfect shade.
However, don’t forget about the legal restrictions. Law enforcement authorities will tell you to pull over in most states if you have 5% tints on your cars. So, do check your local laws before coating your windows with 5% tint films.
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So, Which One Is Better? 15% or 5% Tint?
If there were no legal complications, I’d have said the 5% tint is the best choice. But we can’t ignore the legal aspect. The 15% tint is not legal everywhere, but it has more legal wiggle room for sure.
How much will you be giving up by choosing the 15% tint? Honestly, not much. In low light conditions, they look the same from the outside. Unless you come close, the difference is not much obvious in well-lit scenarios as well. The heating and UV protection attributes are vastly similar.
So, I’ll say the 15% tint is the best between these two.
Is 15 tint dark enough?
It depends on the specific application. Generally speaking, 15% tint is quite dark and can substantially reduce the amount of visible light passing through your windows. However, the darkness can vary depending on the tint color and the vehicle’s make and model.
Can you see into 5% tint?
Yes, you can see through the 5% tint. Even though it is very dark, it is not completely opaque and will still allow some light to pass through. However, it is dark enough that you may be unable to determine what is inside the vehicle.
Why is it called 5% tint?
The percentages typically used to represent window tint refer to the amount of light allowed to pass through the windows. 5% tint only allows 5% of visible light to enter the car, while 20% tint allows 20% of visible light to enter. The higher the percentage, the lighter the tint.
Last Opinion
In my comparative discussion between 5% tint and 15% tint for car windows, I wanted to explain why opting for the 15% tint would be the better choice. It is true that both tints offer similar features, but the 15% tint provides better visibility from inside the vehicle and is also legal in more areas. Thus, if you are considering having tinted windows on your car, you should seriously consider getting a 15% tint for the benefits it offers.
