Tail light tint

[noel61]

So thinking about tinting my tailights this weekend and want to know what you all think. Either buy the film and cover the entire thing black, go with the covers again(that flew of last time) or get black paint for tiny and some clear cost and do it that way. Now I plan on tinting half my tail light black and the other half with nothing. Sounds weird but want to do something like this. If you think I should use the spray paint why type you think is the best and what is the process to make it clear and not crack.

[Waiz]

Do you mean tint?

I would recommend against it or at least check your local laws, some cities do not allow tail light tinting

[noel61]

I had all my cars with to tinted lights so I'm not worried about that but thanks man. Really wanna know what everyone's thoughts are of taking the lights off cleaning them sanding them and using that special paint with clear coat. And how you do it exactly.

[Dustin@Z1]

Covers are too dark in my opinion for street usage. If you want tinted tails for a car show, then do covers so you can pop them on and off easily. This will give a nice finish and will keep you legal.

Tinting tail lights with film is better since you can choose from a spectrum of darknesses. The downside to tinting with film is that they will scratch easily and show scratches much worse. (from my experience). On the upside, you can easily re-tint the lights if needed.

Tinting tail lights with paint always leaves a rough or uneven finish from what I have seen. You also have to make sure you prep the surface properly before painting. Paint is permanent. Film and covers can be taken off if you have to (covers can even be removed with the cop standing there in the instance that you DO get pulled over).

My $0.02 on tinting tail lights....do you really want to chance your beautiful Z to the 18-wheeler or dump truck behind your and hope that he will see you brake lights?

[noel61]

Well I'm doing something a little different. I'm not gonna tint them all the way so they bottom half of my Tail light will be normal. Just wanted to know how to correctly apply the vht and clear coat. Like do I need to sand it? I heard some people doin that

[Read T]

Dont sand it. Dont clear it. Just clean it and stick on vinyl.

[MattP725]

If you paint it, it will immediately or eventually look like *** regardless of how you prep it... it will lose it's reflective properties and appear dull. I am not sure why you would just tint the bottom on a non-symetrical tail light but then again I wouldn't tint any part of any tail light.

If I did, I would do what Z1 said to a T. Light film for daily use or those GTS style covers for show.

Keep in mind if anyone EVER rear ends you regardless of reason they have a very good case for why it would be considered your fault and you may be stuck paying to repair both vehicles. One of my favorite reasons to hate tail light tint (but there are so many).

[Bluebatmobile]

Overlay .

B@t™

[robones]

Originally Posted by MattP725

Keep in mind if anyone EVER rear ends you regardless of reason they have a very good case for why it would be considered your fault and you may be stuck paying to repair both vehicles. One of my favorite reasons to hate tail light tint (but there are so many).

This is such a true and very important statement!!! If I would ever cause an accident (knock on wood) and I rear ended someone with tinted tailights; I would argue the crap out of my case how I could not see them because of the dark tail lights.... to the point where they would be the ones paying for everything.

[1325]

Check with your state motor vehicle statutes in reference to brake lamp visibility. You don't necessarily have to drive in fear that your brake lights may not be seen by others. Either the law should state that no cover of any material shall inhibit transmission of light, or the light shall be visible from a determined distance. Sure, you open doors to a civil suit should this ever be questioned, but you can argue that you have measured the distance and it was visible from X feet away, and that the driver behind you needs a vision check-up.

[bullitt5897]

In the state of georgia it requires that your lights must be visible from a distance greater than 300ft... Now I have been pulled over by the cops and mine are BLACKED the F OUT!!! I seriosly doubt there is a darker tint on the forums... The key with law enforcement is to know the law for your state as well as to make sure that the REFLECTOR portion of the light is still visible (i.e. the lower reflector strip). Police will check that first to determine if they are legal. Each time I was pulled they took out their flash light and hit the tails to see if the reflector was visible through the tint. Mine is barely visible... Now if they give you a hard time about it make sure you know the distances required by your state by heart. I have also used the excuse of "these are my show lights and my street lights are on back order..." I usually get a warning but I only use that if I feel the cop is going to try to give me a ticket anyway.

[Bluebatmobile]

I offer two tints:

6/10=20%
3/10=60%

Even with my 20%, lights are still visible from 300ft .

B@t™

[robones]

Originally Posted by Bullitt@UAMotorsports

In the state of georgia it requires that your lights must be visible from a distance greater than 300ft... Now I have been pulled over by the cops and mine are BLACKED the F OUT!!! I seriosly doubt there is a darker tint on the forums... The key with law enforcement is to know the law for your state as well as to make sure that the REFLECTOR portion of the light is still visible (i.e. the lower reflector strip). Police will check that first to determine if they are legal. Each time I was pulled they took out their flash light and hit the tails to see if the reflector was visible through the tint. Mine is barely visible... Now if they give you a hard time about it make sure you know the distances required by your state by heart. I have also used the excuse of "these are my show lights and my street lights are on back order..." I usually get a warning but I only use that if I feel the cop is going to try to give me a ticket anyway.

300 seems too short of a distance for it to be safe or effective. Think about this, the 370z is rated from 60-0 at 103 feet. That leaves only 197 feet wiggle room and that is asssuming the person behind you has 100% reaction time. Which in the real world NEVER happens.

I live in the State of Florida where the minium visibility distance has to be 1,000 feet. If you mod your lights, forget about being able to do any interstate travel or just prepare to pay fine after fine after fine. LOLOL just for a dark tint? Not worth it.

[Bluebatmobile]

I believe its 300 ft in Ca.

B@t™

[1325]

Originally Posted by robones

I live in the State of Florida where the minium visibility distance has to be 1,000 feet.

Negative. 300 feet minimum.

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