Tinting Sunroof, is glass shattering a myth?

[KoG506]

I am think about tinting my '00 avy sunroof. It already have a tint to it(factory). I'm going to do it myself, since it's small and shouldn't be hard. I will be using The Black Tint Box brand film (non metalized). I am going for 20%. But I read post from different forums talking about the sunroof glass will shatter/explode. Is that a true or myth?

[Zembonez]

Don't know if it's a myth... but I had a buddy who tinted his Maxima glass roof and it shattered one day in the sun. We don't know what happened to it but of course tint was blamed.

[TrailDust]

I've never heard that before but I suppose there could be some credence to it if sunroof glass is not constructed of safety glass like the other windows in a car. If it is more akin to standard glass there could be expansion issues causing it to heat unevenly and cracking or shattering. Remind you, I'm just hypothesizing about that. It wouldn't hurt to call around to two or three tinting shops in your local area and ask them about it.

[AML]

Why would tint cause it to shatter?

[Zembonez]

I have no idea. One theory is heat buildup, but why wouldn't other glasses suffer the same fate?

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I have no idea. One theory is heat buildup, but why wouldn't other glasses suffer the same fate?

That's why I'm thinking it's a different type of glass. Be interesting to definitely know if this is a real thing or not....

[KoG506]

I just contact my tint guy. He said, "No. As long as u don't put limo tint on it. Even then it is a rare thing."

[kingnba6]

arent sunroofs tinted by stock ? but anyway, isnt it the same type of glass as windows ? so it shouldnt be any problem.

[KoG506]

So I tinted the sunroof myself took a while but the result are great!

Now I hope the shatter/exploding thing wont happen. I will update this if something does happen. I will bust this myth! lol

[Zembonez]

Not sure about types of glass. My home has Low E double pane windows. I had a glass guy come out to give me an estimate on some tint and he refused, saying the glass would break (crack) from the reflected heat.

[kingnba6]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

Not sure about types of glass. My home has Low E double pane windows. I had a glass guy come out to give me an estimate on some tint and he refused, saying the glass would break (crack) from the reflected heat.

i always thought of tinting my home windows but i guess thats out of the question

[ThurzNite]

I'm gonna venture on this, based on reading tinting forum
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8763
Stock celica sunroof is plexi, which in this case, scratched easily. I'm sure nobody wants scratches in their windows!

According to this thread, it depends on what tint you use:
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=51466

Some sunroofs have nasty dot matrix, commonly seen on rear windows. On my Solara, I have 1" thick black painted on borders, I don't think tint would easily stick.
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4934

Here's a guy with an 02 4runner, very good info in this thread. Tempered glass vs laminated glass. Post #8 posits that Nissan sent a TSB about tinted sunroofs breaking, but that was back in the 1980s
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=35004

Hope those readings helped out (after the fact).

Dr J

[KoG506]

Thanks! My sunroof is Temperlite like every other windows except windshield. So I tinted it 20%. It feels really hot to the touch on a sunny day like today.

[KoG506]

20%