San Diego residents love the yearlong sunshine that makes this city a top tourist destination. But we don’t love how the sun transforms our cars into ovens on wheels when parked outside during the day. That’s not an exaggeration—after an hour or two in the sun, a car’s interior temperature can spike to about 50 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, while the temperature of the dashboard and seats can rise even higher. That means on a 100-degree day, the surface of your dashboard can reach up to 200 degrees, which is hot enough to bake cookies!

While parking lot shades made of solar panels are becoming increasingly popular, they’re not widespread yet, and trees providing shade are limited as well. The best way to block all that heat in your vehicle is to invest in car window tints. Here’s how it works:

Window glass is the perfect heat trap

When sunlight enters your car through the windows, it’s absorbed by the interior surfaces and then radiates back out in the form of heat energy. But while light from the sun can escape back through the windows, the glass traps the heat energy inside the car, causing the interior temperature to rise. Car window tints prevent this by blocking a significant amount of the sun’s heat-causing UV rays.

Window tint blocks up to 80% of solar heat

Heat rejection properties vary by window tint type, shade, and quality. Most average window tints provide around 35-45% of heat rejection, while premium window tints can block up to 75-80% of the sun’s scorching heat. However, there are many factors to consider when choosing window tint, and heat rejection is only one of them, so it’s best to seek out recommendations from window tint installation experts.

Different tint materials affect heat rejection capabilities

There are four main types of window film, and the materials used will determine how much heat the tint blocks:

• Ceramic window film: Exceptionally durable and made with ceramic nanotechnology for the highest level of heat rejection.

• Metallized window film: Made from metallic particles that reflect sunlight and provide high levels of heat rejection.

• Dyed window film: The most cost effective window tint option, but the least effective in blocking solar heat.

• Hybrid window film: Combines dyed and metallized window film layers for effective heat rejection and a non-reflective appearance.

If you want the sunlight-blocking advantages of window film but you don’t like the look of window tint, there are also clear window films available that can provide up to 40% of heat rejection, depending on the manufacturer.

Always choose professional installation

Car window tints, from economical versions to top-of-the-line brands, are only effective if installed correctly. And despite the prevalence of DIY window tinting tutorials online, the process is much more complex than affixing a large sticker to window glass. Skill, experience, and the right tools for the job are crucial to proper window tint installation, and on top of manufacturer warranties, many professional installation experts offer lifetime warranties on labor.

Stay cool all year round with Audio Shack car window tints

If you’re not looking forward to another summer spent in your “oven on wheels,” now’s a great time to guarantee your car stays cool all year long. At Audio Shack in San Diego, our window tint experts can help you choose from our wide selection of the best window film brands. We’re so confident in our window tint installation service that we offer a lifetime warranty on labor. Give us a call or stop in our El Cajon showroom today.