Real world performance on Huper C40

cleverchimp · June 2, 2019

I tinted my car (Prius Prime) with Huper C40 all around besides the windshield and felt it wasn’t performed as expected. What is the right expectation for this tint?

I did a quick test using a handheld thermo and these are the results between C40, No Tint and Factory tinted privacy glass :

(C40) - Surface : Around 128F, Inside : Around 124F

(NO FILM) - Surface : 120F, Inside : Around 132F

(FACTORY PIVACY GLASS) - Surface : Around 127F, Inside : Around 126F

In conclusion that it help reducing the temperature around 10F and seems to perform equally with factory tinted glass at maybe 20%. Measuring with a solar meter, 360BTU outside, after the film is 62. I also feel the heat from the side when driving the car, is this expected for a $500 tint?

Edited June 3, 2019 by cleverchimp

TomTint · June 2, 2019

You first need to understand that window film is not a AC unit. It makes zero difference what film you put on your car and then park it in the sun.. it’s still going to be like a oven inside. Think of it this way, imagine you have a empty cup and then turn on a faucet full blast. The cup fills up very fast ( now imagine that water is the suns heat and the cup is your cars interior. ..same cup, same faucet.. but you cut the flow of water ( heat ) by 50%... that cup is still going to fill up..just a little slower. Also..ceramic films absorb and retain heat.. so that alone plays a part to a certain degree. ..ceramic = today’s gimmick.02

cleverchimp · June 2, 2019

Thanks for the insight Tom, I’m fully aware of that and I agree with you about ceramic film. Thermostat indeed show its hotter, I was more into trying to understand the hype of Huper Optik film and ceramic film in general, spending $500 for a 10F temp reduction might not that wise, I might settle for 8F temp reduction for half of that with LLumar. Maybe that’s probably why 3M dont go with ceramic for their Crystalline series?

The dealer mentioned that my problem is on the windshield (I know that this will contribute to the ambient temperature) and quote me another $250 for C50...but the heat I feel is coming from the treated windows and I want to figure this out first. I can feel comfortable with 80F weather and 2 bar of AC at the coldest setting, but if its 90F to 100F outside the AC will need to be blasted to max level, not much different before I get the film treated...what gives?

Edited June 2, 2019 by cleverchimp

TomTint · June 2, 2019

2 hours ago, cleverchimp said:

Thanks for the insight Tom, I’m fully aware of that and I agree with you about ceramic film. Thermostat indeed show its hotter, I was more into trying to understand the hype of Huper Optik film and ceramic film in general, spending $500 for a 10F temp reduction might not that wise, I might settle for 8F temp reduction for half of that with LLumar. Maybe that’s probably why 3M dont go with ceramic for their Crystalline series?

The dealer mentioned that my problem is on the windshield (I know that this will contribute to the ambient temperature) and quote me another $250 for C50...but the heat I feel is coming from the treated windows and I want to figure this out first. I can feel comfortable with 80F weather and 2 bar of AC at the coldest setting, but if its 90F to 100F outside the AC will need to be blasted to max level, not much different before I get the film treated...what gives?

If it's 90-100* outside.. it makes no difference what you have on your windows..it's going to be hot. You need to temper your expectations. And 3M did not go the ceramic route..because Huper has the only true ceramic ( patented ) film on the market. All the others are one type of hybrid or another. As far as ceramics go..Huper is the best of the options.

Edited June 2, 2019 by TomTint

cleverchimp · June 3, 2019

This is my first car tint, I thought I will get the WOW feeling after that but I guess not. The thing I do notice is the glare reductions from the headlight of higher vehicle on my tail, it doesnt blind me anymore also between the defroster line on the back there will be light distortions of some kind.

After reading hours of informations here, I thought tint will help A LOT on the HVAC system...but the fact is that it will somewhat help. I might get 15F cooler with DREI but if I know all this beforehand I would probably stick with LLUMAR CTX for half the price. Not sure want to spend $$$ for DREI, even it have gold in it....I think it’s overpriced.

Edited June 3, 2019 by cleverchimp

Roach · June 3, 2019

I wonder how much better it would be with having your windshield done. It's the largest window in a car. I know you said the windows that are already tinted are giving off heat, but an untinted windshield has to be passing a fair amount of solar heat as well. :chin

cleverchimp · June 3, 2019

1 hour ago, Roach said:

I wonder how much better it would be with having your windshield done. It's the largest window in a car. I know you said the windows that are already tinted are giving off heat, but an untinted windshield has to be passing a fair amount of solar heat as well.

I wonder the same too but unwilling to shell another $250 for C50 installed on the windshield. I was amazed on how expensive a windows tinting can be these days. I paid $500 for 5 windows and half of that for a single windshield? The math just doesnt add up. The back window is large too.

Another consideration is that if a rock hit the windshield, and safelite need to repair it...I would imagine it would destroy the tint. I’m not willing to re-tint it for another $250 if that happen.

I’m considering lower priced options now and looking the lowest prices on Crystalline 70, Xpel Prime XR Plus 70 or Stratos. I got quotes for Airblue 80 on lower $100 but not sure how bluish is it and why go with 80 if you can get same clarity with 70?

Another thing I learn is HO or their dealer doesn’t warrant the performance of the film. If you dont like it, you are at loss!

Edited June 3, 2019 by cleverchimp

Roach · June 3, 2019

No one is going to warranty performance, esp. when there are so many factors that come in to play. Location, color of car, time of day, etc. Just not possible.

As for the cost to tint.. that's probably about average. Whether or not that's a lot of money likewise depends on many factors.

I notice it feels a lot better sitting in my car with the windows tinted then before when they weren't. I drive a lot, so that comfort, to me, is worth the expense. :thumb2

cleverchimp · June 3, 2019

25 minutes ago, Roach said:

No one is going to warranty performance, esp. when there are so many factors that come in to play. Location, color of car, time of day, etc. Just not possible.

As for the cost to tint.. that's probably about average. Whether or not that's a lot of money likewise depends on many factors.

I notice it feels a lot better sitting in my car with the windows tinted then before when they weren't. I drive a lot, so that comfort, to me, is worth the expense.

I hope there are a standardized test that an average joe can do at home to measure the performance of a windows film else a naughty installer could install CTX and charges HO prices and customer wont even know the differences. HO have butter challenge youtube video that is do-able, I might do that later on.

Do you have your windshield tinted too? I wonder if you can do the same test with the handheld thermo. I learn also what is considered “Good install”, there are some dust and possibly a lint/hair on some area and my installers think that is normal on an install...wont replace it because of that. Its not noticeable from few feet away, just up close.

I agree with you, everyone have their own opinions about the price. My point of view is that just dont see how a pieces of plastic with glues cost hundreds..even with a rare earth material. The manufacture profit will be at least 200% mark up...dealer mark it up again at least 100%. Even that, on $500...seems like paying $300 for the labor and $200 for the material.

Edited June 3, 2019 by cleverchimp

Roach · June 3, 2019

3 minutes ago, cleverchimp said:

I hope there are a standardized test that an average joe can do at home to measure the performance of a windows film

Not that I know of. I mean, there are tests and certifications that are done to measure how well a film blocks heat, for example. The claims made by manufactures are backed up by data... but that's different then a 'real feel' test sitting in your car.

Do you have your windshield tinted too?

I just got a new car a couple weeks ago... I don't have it tinted yet. In my truck, I had all the other windows done except the windshield and I could def feel a difference depending on where the sun was - if it was in front of me as I was driving or on the sides/back where those windows were tinted. Before I got my car I was using a friends vehicle, which isn't tinted at all, and even with his A/C going, I'd be sitting there roasting when the sun was coming in the drivers side window. Tint just makes it more comfortable, IMO.

pieces of plastic with glues cost hundreds

It doesn't. But you're not taking into account the years of learning the skill required to do this job. It's easy to look at a price and try to figure out how much something should cost based on very little knowledge with regards to the skills required to perform whatever service is being discussed or the numbers behind running a business. That's a whole other can of worms that no one is going to want to go back and forth on.....