Ceramic Window Tint in Canton, MI

What ceramic tint does that cheaper film doesn't

There are three main types of automotive window film.

Dyed film is the cheapest. It darkens the glass, but it does little for heat, and over time the dye breaks down. That's where the purple, bubbly back windows you see around town come from.

Carbon film is a step up. It holds its color better and blocks more heat than dyed film.

Ceramic film uses non-conductive ceramic particles. It rejects a large share of infrared light, which is the part of sunlight you feel as heat, even in lighter shades. Because there's no metal in it, it won't interfere with GPS, cell signal, radio or key fobs. Quality ceramic films are also rated to block nearly all UV, which protects your skin and keeps dashboards and leather from fading and cracking.

If you're mainly after privacy and looks, carbon can be enough. If you want the cabin to actually feel cooler in July, ceramic is the one to get.

Michigan window tint law, in plain English

This is where a lot of people get bad information, including from some shops. Michigan's rules are in the Michigan Vehicle Code, section 257.709. Here's what it says:

• Windshield: film is only allowed on the top 4 inches, or down to the factory shade band, whichever is closer to the top.
• Front side windows (driver and front passenger): the same rule. Film is only allowed on the top 4 inches. Michigan law does not set a percentage you can tint these windows to.
• Rear side windows and back window: any darkness is allowed, but the film can't create a total solar reflectance of 35% or more, so mirror-like silver or gold films are out. If the view through the back window is obstructed, the car needs a rearview mirror on each side, which nearly every modern car already has.
• Medical exemption: a person who is light sensitive or photosensitive can have a special window treatment if a physician or optometrist has determined it's necessary and the driver carries a signed letter saying so. The law doesn't list which windows, but the treatment can't interfere with the driver's clear view of the road.

You may hear that "35% is legal on the front windows in Michigan." That number comes from a 2019 bill, House Bill 5100, which never became law.

We'll walk you through your options window by window before any film goes on. Read the full breakdown on our Michigan tint law page.

How a proper tint job goes

1. Choosing the shade. Looking at film samples on glass beats looking at a percentage on a chart. Shade affects how the car looks from outside and how well you can see out at night.

2. Removing old film, if there is any. Old, failing film has to come off completely, adhesive included, or the new film won't sit right.

3. Cleaning the glass. Any dust or grit trapped under the film shows up as a bump forever. The glass gets cleaned thoroughly, edges and seals included.

4. Cutting the film. Film is either cut from a computer pattern for your exact model or trimmed by hand on the glass. Either way, the goal is clean edges with a minimal gap at the top of roll-down windows.

5. Shrinking and applying. Rear windows are curved, so the film is heat-shrunk to the shape of the glass before it's applied from the inside.

6. Curing. Water used during install needs time to evaporate through the film.

After the install

Keep the windows rolled up for a few days while the film cures. In a Michigan winter this can take longer, because cold slows down drying. A little haze or a few small water pockets in the first days is normal and clears on its own.

Clean tinted windows with a soft cloth and an ammonia free cleaner. Ammonia can break down some films over time.

Tint for different vehicles

Sedans and coupes usually get the side windows and the rear window done. Remember the front side window rule above.

SUVs and pickups often come with factory privacy glass on the rear windows. That glass is tinted, but it's colored glass, not heat-rejecting film, so it does very little for heat. A clear or light ceramic film over factory privacy glass adds heat and UV rejection without making it much darker.

EVs benefit a lot. A cooler cabin means less work for the AC and more range for the battery. Many EVs also have large glass roofs, and those can be filmed too.

Ceramic tint FAQ