Everything You Need to Know About Vehicle Light Tinting

Light tinting films are easily applied on top of tail lights and headlights and can allow you to completely change the appearance of your vehicle. Made from a strong and flexible film with a clear layer of adhesive, there are a variety of smoke effect and coloured light tints which will give you a stylish look on the road.

As well as improving your vehicle’s aesthetic, light tinting will provide added protection against damage to the lights such as scratching or chipping. Films are very durable and they’re waterproof, which means that they can be washed and treated like any other surface on your vehicle. Light tinting films can last for years, however if you’re ready for a change they can simply be removed without damaging the lights.

Vehicle light tinting requirements

Although slick smoked tints are perfectly fine to use, if your light tints are too dark you could pose a serious safety risk to yourself and other drivers and you could see a big fine coming your way. In the UK, light tinting films are permitted, though to keep drivers safe there are certain requirements that need to be met when installing them:

●     Lights cannot be dimmed by more than 50%. They need to be bright enough to illuminate the road ahead and be clearly visible to drivers from behind.

●     You must still be able to see their original colour - headlights need to be white/yellow, rear lights must be red.

●     Lights should be visible from a distance.

Click here to see the full MOT regulations regarding light tints. Having light tints installed should not be a reason for MOT rejection, so long as the light outputs are not adversely reduced, it emits the correct colour and the film is securely fitted. Grey or smoked light tints are popular among drivers and less likely to affect the light output than coloured options. If you have high-intensity discharge light bulbs (H.I.D/Xenon) you should be careful when installing light tints as they may produce an excessive heat build-up under sustained high beam use.

Pro-Tints specialise in vehicle wrapping and offer a wide range of Oracal and SPI Vision light tints any tinting in stylish shades and colours. Light tinting is a simple way to give your vehicle an interesting look and works extremely well with a vehicle wrap or custom rims for a complete uplift. To find out more about Pro-Tints light tinting products or to speak to a member of the team for advice, please call 01794 367088 or email sales@pro-tints.co.uk.

Why Window Tinting is a Great Investment for Your Vehicle

Window tinting has long been a popular installation for cars and it provides a fast and simple way to help improve and enhance the aesthetics of a vehicle. Tinted windows can certainly add a certain elegance to all styles of vehicle, but there are many more benefits aside from the obvious appearance of tinting films. Window tinting could be one of the best investments you make for your vehicle.

Installing window film can:

Improve security

Window film makes it very difficult to break into your car by means of breaking a window. Should a thief attempt to break the glass, window film holds all shards together, making it extremely hard work for them to gain entry to your vehicle.

Improve safety

As well as keeping your car and belongings safe from thieves, vehicle window tinting film also provides an extra layer of safety for you and your passengers. If glass is broken in an accident, the film holds glass shards together and considerably reduces the likelihood of any glass coming into contact with you or anyone else travelling in your car. Whilst you may worry that window film could trap you in the car should a window be the safest way out, this isn’t the case as film is much easier and safer to push outwards.

Make driving more comfortable

On a bright, sunny day, or on a dark night when vehicle’s headlights are constantly rushing past you, glare can making driving an uncomfortable experience and put a lot of strain on your eyes. Window tinting can help considerably reduce glare, so eye fatigue when driving is much less of a problem.

Protect your vehicle interior

When you have made a big investment in buying a vehicle, you will no doubt want to keep it in a great condition, the interior included. UV rays from the sun are responsible for more than half of the damage caused to the interior of a car, leading interior upholstery, trim and carpeting to fade. Solar heat can also lead to plastic parts warping or cracking. The good news is that window tinting rejects solar energy and as much as 99% of UV rays. As a result, it protects your investment and helps your vehicle to maintain value should you wish to sell in the future.

Protects your skin

Exposure to UV rays can cause serious damage to your skin, so the protection provided by window tinting can help to reduce the likelihood of skin cancer and other skin problems.

Improve energy efficiency

As window tinting film helps to reject solar heat energy, your car does not heat up so quickly, so your air conditioning system will not have to work as hard to keep your car at the desired temperature. As a result, you can expect to reduce fuel costs and lessen the need for air conditioning servicing. If you are interested in window tinting for your vehicle, call Pro-Tints & Graphics today on 01794 367088, 07986 716786 or email sales@pro-tints.co.uk.

The Pro Tints Guide to Vehicle Light Tinting

Vinyl tinting for vehicles’ windows is a popular way to increase privacy, prevent glare and improve security. Many car owners also like that they can customise their vehicle with window tints for a more stylish and individual look. This can also be achieved with light tinting, however light tinting hasn’t yet been so widely adopted in the UK. Light tinting allows you to place a coloured, translucent film over the headlights and tail lights of your vehicle, giving you the chance to update and personalise it quickly and easily. Because of the special vinyl material used, the tinted wrap won’t damage the lights and can be removed with little or no adhesive residue. Light tinting provides a completely unique effect that requires little maintenance.

When opting for vehicle light tints you’ll need to ensure that the materials used are legal and comply with the UK MOT test regulations, stated below:

MOT regulations on light tinting

Headlights: A pair of headlights must emit light of substantially the same colour and intensity, emit a steady colour of either white or yellow and be visible from a reasonable distance.

Brake lights: A brake light must emit a steady red light. At least 50% of the lamp must be visible from the rear. Light must be visible from a reasonable distance.

Reflectors: At least 50% of the reflecting surface must be visible from a reasonable distance.

Indicators: Every indicator must emit amber light. At least 50% of the lamp must be visible. Light must be visible from a reasonable distance.

Masks, or converter kits: A headlamp or rear tail lamp altered in this way is not a reason for MOT rejection. So long as light outputs are not adversely reduced, it emits the appropriate correct colour and the mask is securely attached.

At Pro Tints we have a vast range of approved assorted colours and finishes available for your vehicle’s lights, including mesh effect, smoke effects and even clear wraps, giving you the benefit of stone-chip protection without altering your vehicle’s appearance. The two types of light tints we offer are waterproof and durable, and can conform to most light contours. With easy and fast application that doesn’t require the light fitting to be removed, our vehicle light tints are able to be washed and treated like any other surface, making them a great way to customise your lights and transform the look of your vehicle:

Oracal

This series of vinyl film is transparent, and comes in two shades of grey for a tinted appeal, as well as a range of different colours. Oracal wraps completely cover the headlights or tail lights for a stylish look, allowing for ease of application and removal, without damaging the surface it is adhered to. 

SPi Vision

SPi Vision is a tinting mesh that adheres to the surface of any light, for a dark finish that can improve your vehicle’s appearance. Known for offering durability, SPi Vision light wraps are resistant to most weather and road conditions, and can also be installed and removed easily and quickly, leaving little or no residue. 

It should be noted that high-intensity discharge light bulbs could cause excessive heat build-up under sustained high beam use, which would melt the vinyl. However if the high-beam bulb has a silvered tip or a cowling in front of it, then the tinting should be fine.

If you’d like any advice on updating your vehicle with a new stylish tint, or to speak to us about getting light tinting for your car, feel free to call us on 01794 367088, or email sales@pro-tints.co.uk.

A Guide to Maintaining and Protecting Your Vehicle’s Paintwork

As soon as you purchase your new vehicle, your paintwork will be prone to damage from the environment, grime, or any scratches and daily wear. Protecting your vehicle’s paintwork from the everyday elements is best started from day one, as leaving this till it’s worn and faded can make it more difficult and costly to restore. Getting the right protection and properly maintaining your vehicle’s paintwork will keep it in the best condition, and provide a more valuable return if you decide to sell it.

Washing

Washing away any dirt or grime that could tarnish paintwork is the first step when maintaining your vehicle. However there are many mistakes to be made which could further damage paintwork: washing the car in direct sunlight can burn spots in the paint, the wrong type of cleaning soap such as dishwasher detergent, can remove the protective layer and leave a chalky finish. There is also some debate about automatic car washes, as older car washes using abrasive brushes can wear down the paintwork. Using the right cleaning equipment, and using soft cloth towels to wipe down your vehicle will ensure you maintain the paintwork whilst keeping your vehicle clean.

Polishing

The painted surface of a vehicle isn’t fully smooth and has some texture to it. Following up washing with a polish is one option to remove oxidised paint worn by UV rays, and weathering. Polishes can be slightly abrasive and can help to remove minor scratches, produce a shinier and smooth any imperfections. Polishing on its own will gradually remove the surface paintwork of your vehicle and strip away the protective layer and solvents in the paint. The newly exposed paintwork will oxidise more quickly, and be more likely to incur wear. It is recommended that polishing is combined with waxing, which will build up layers over the paintwork to be polished and smoothed.

Waxing

Like polishing, car wax fills in minor scratches and provides a smooth, shiny finish. Waxing is better at maintaining the paintwork of a vehicle than polishing alone, and is a well-established way to coat a vehicle in a durable protective layer. The hardened layer over the paintwork formed through waxing is built up over time, though because of this, minor defects can build up in the individual layers or dirt can be trapped, causing a dulling of the finish. Waxing and polishing may have to be carried out regularly to keep a vehicle’s paint job in top condition, and there are newer technologies available to protect paintwork, which may be more suitable.

Vehicle Wrapping

Not only can wraps offer a perfect solution to personalising your vehicle and adding a great shine, a wrap will also protect your paintwork from wear and light scratches, tarmac and environmental conditions. There are varying grades of paint protection available in vehicle wrapping films to protect areas susceptible to chips, scuffs or minor abrasions. 

Vehicle wrapping is applied in a clear or coloured, durable vinyl layer, and can provide cover for specific vehicle parts or the full body. A wrap offers a highly attractive and aesthetic protective barrier to general wear, without hindering a vehicle’s performance. Investing in a wrap to protect your vehicle straight away, or rejuvenating your existing paintwork with a new protective wrapping, will make maintenance easier, and help prolong its condition and value.

For further advice on protecting and maintaining your paintwork, or if you’d like a quote for vehicle wrapping, then please give us a call on 01794 367088 or 07986 716786 (out of hours), or email the Pro-Tints & Graphics team at sales@pro-tints.co.uk.