Automotive tint guide—Heat rejection for your car

The heat can be dreadful, even when you’re inside the car. Your air conditioning system might have a hard time battling the sun’s rays absorbed by the cabin. Some motorists outfitted their cars with heat-rejection tints in order to better prevent heat from totally invading its cabin.

In order for you to better understand the benefits of these films, we’ve laid out an explanation that tackles its purpose, specifications you need to look out for, and which brands cater to these kinds of car tints. These are things that you will need to consider when buying tints, so without further ado, let’s proceed.

The ultraviolet (UV) energy causes sunburns, plus, it can also fade those coloring and dyes in materials. Infrared (IR) energy, on the other hand, is the one responsible for heating our planet and, subsequently, the interiors of your vehicles. It is also slightly more than half of the energy that reaches the Earth’s surface.

Aside from the added privacy, car window tints are also designed to reject heat. It acts as a filter that prevents the building up of interior heat without blocking that natural lighting that illuminates the cabin. Aside from that, your car’s air conditioning system should cool the cabin easier and quicker. 

However, do take note that the amount of protection from the tint may depend on its UV and IR specifications which is something we’ll get onto in a bit.

Window films designed to block heat transfer comes in five types: 

• Metallic - From the word itself, this particular tint is made of metallic particles that make it a thicker type of film.
• Carbon - Notably, hundreds of microlayers of polymer and carbon block infrared light from reaching the interior of your car. Plus, it gives your car a dark, matte finish.
• Ceramic - Out of the other kinds, the ceramic film sits the highest in terms of quality.
• Dyed - Dyed tint, on the other hand, has a deep black color that appears opaque from an outside view is the best option. It does better in terms of appearance rather than functionality.
• Hybrid - Lastly, the hybrid tint is a combination of dyed and metalized tints.

Locally, one of the most common tints in the country is carbon and ceramic.

The energy from the sun at lower wavelengths than violet light is called UV light. Not all window tints offer supreme UV protection. We’re probably one of those who affirm that this is a need, as UV rays can go through the glass, therefore increasing wrinkles, age spots, or even worse cases like skin cancer. You’re just going to have to consult the specifications of your chosen car tint, the higher the percentage, the better the protection is. 

It was mentioned earlier that the IR energy is the one responsible for heating up your car’s interior. Like a tint’s UV protection, the same principle also applies with the IR rejection’s specification, checking percentage ratings will show you how much heat rejection is the tint capable of. Likewise, as its number goes up, the better the heat resistant is. 

This is probably a common question among those who are about to have their cars installed with tints. It is true that the darker the film applied, the more the heat rejection properties it has. While it may seem logical to have darker films installed in order to reject as much heat that enters your cabin, still, your safety should be prioritized, as your night time visibility could be affected. 

Not to mention, the Philippine government has mandated a strict standard with selecting your car window tints. While they do value the privacy of drivers, very dark films, however, are considered to be safety and security hazards especially during night time. So your choice should also revolve around the standards of the local government and your safety.

Locally, the Philippines has a vast range of tint brands to choose from. Probably one of the most renowned names in the industry are 3M and V-KOOL. You can either have these installed in the casa upon rolling out your brand new ride or simply have it as an aftermarket option. 

However, there are other brands that are smaller and can come at a more affordable price point. Getting your car tinted can get quite expensive, but what’s important is the application process. Make sure that the installer doesn’t get any bubbles or imperfections, as improperly installed tint may remove over time.