5 Ways to Tell Your Car’s Window Tint is Failing.

Window tint is designed to increase privacy and reduce UV exposure while maintaining a sleek and stylish appearance. It does a great job while being understated and oftentimes almost taken for granted. However, no tint lasts forever, and when it comes to cars, who can spend a lot of their time exposed to direct sunlight, the window film can start to degrade. Here are five signs that your car’s window tint is on its last legs.

1. Sub-Par UV Protection

Here on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, our sun is hot! Especially in the spring and summer months, when UV rays are at their peak, we’ll tend to feel when the interior of our car is hotter than it used to be. This can largely be the cause of failing window tint, which starts to lose its heat-rejecting capabilities due to age, wear and tear. You may also notice that your car’s interior is getting beaten up by the sun’s rays, resulting in faded and/or brittle trims and plastics. This can result in unwanted surprises and expensive repairs depending on the type of car you have. You may also experience increased glare and brightness inside the cabin, which can make for a more unpleasant driving experience.

2. Formation of Air Bubbles

Air bubbles and pockets in window tint are usually due to improper installation. This could be due to excessive heat during installation, wrong sizing or uneven distribution. Bubbles may not necessarily appear straight away and can take time to form. Another culprit of tint bubbles is low quality tint. These cheaper tints can often have weak adhesive that fails to stand up to the sun’s heat and stick to the glass properly. It’s always a smarter move to choose a high quality tint. When done properly, it can last for years. As they say, you truly do get what you pay for!

3. Purple Colouring and Fading

Another effect of poor quality tinting is their tendency to turn a purple colour over time. The original colour may begin to fade as well, a byproduct of the cheaper, low-quality materials used in the tint that cannot stand up the sun long-term. Thiss change in appearance can also be dangerous for the driver as it reduces visibility, as well as affecting privacy capabilities.

4. Deep Scratches

Over time as a car gets used, windows tend to get scratched. The interior of your car can become subject to many scratches, including the window film on the inside of the glass. Smaller scratches can oftentimes be removed as there tends to be a small amount of “give” when it comes to window tint. However, deeper scratches and divots will have an effect on the window film, even sometimes causing it to fail prematurely. Care should always be taken to maintain your window tint and to prevent objects from scratching it, to ensure its maximum longevity.

5. Peeling Corners

Peeling can occur when the adhesive on the window tint starts to pull away from the glass, commonly from the corners. When tint is freshly installed, the film will sit evenly along the lines of the windows. As time goes on and wear and tear occurs, the corner adhesive will start to curl and peel, a giveaway that the tint is on its last legs. Another tell-tale sign is a squealing or screeching sound that may occur when the windows are rolled up and down.

In the world of window tinting, quality wins out every time. An upfront investment will result in years of enjoyment, privacy and aesthetic appeal for your car and home. Sunshine Coast Mobile Tinting recommends doing it once and doing it the right way. Get in contact with us today to discuss what we can do to protect and enhance your investment.