Windshield Protection

Recently, I cracked my windshield and had to get it replaced. Normally, this is not a big issue since my insurance is able to cover most of it. The problem is that I am in the process of tinting my front windshield.

After this event, I thought that I should probably protect my windshield on the EXTERIOR before applying the tint on the interior. I don't want to spend all of that money to tint it, just for it to go to waste when my windshield inevitably cracks again.

After some google searches, I realized that it is not as straightforward or or common as I thought. So, do any of you have experience or recommendations with protecting the exterior windshield with some type of film to minimize rock chips?

 

you could try a ceramic coating

 

FWIW, the windshield is laminated glass. The "sandwich" is glass, plastic film, glass.

Verify the local laws regarding window tint about light transmission and which windows can be tinted.

 

a rock the size of a BB thrown off a wheel rotating on a vehicle at 60mph

is goin to crack th windshield............the film will ide it until it grows & U still will have to replace

with ALL the Lane....collision....active cruise apparatus that needs to work properly

be certain to get windshield protection to equal ‘ recalibration ‘ from Ur insurance

 

I will look into this. Thank you!

 

Curious......how would a ceramic coating prevent or resist cracks/chips on the windshield???

 

Not going to do anything but make it easier to clean. Plus 30 minutes of wiper use and the its gone. Add a clear layer of film like they use on the NASCAR windshields might be worth looking into.

 

Doncha know those SiO2 molecules are amazingly strong and will resist all sorts of physical damage.
NOT!

 

https://protectivefilmsolutions.com/windshield-protection-film-rock-shield/
https://www.getexoshield.com/

 

Yes sir! Need to get a prescription from my ophthalmologist to tint the windshield

 

Rain-x also sells crack-x

 

THIS! Ok, here's a start. Thank you!

 

I’m planning to do exactly that. I’m
On my second cracked windshield and not paying for a third one unless I install some kind of protective film. I do want 75-80% for my windshield new too.

There has to be something out there.

Well I did install a Bugdeflector 2 recently and had zero rocks hit my windshield so far. Had one on my previous truck and had 0 issues with the windshield in 7 years. They do seem to work somewhat. Let me know if you find something man.

 

Tint on a windshield is not legal where I live for probably good reasons.

 

There was a dude on here that did 5% on his windshield, then was complaining that it’s hard to see, haha!

IMO 75-80% is perfect for the windshield.

 

Sure - let's put a film on the exterior of the windshield so that the wipers can wear on it and leave a path matching their travel back & forth. Then you'll have to replace the film. Seems like a waste of effort to me.
15 years on my '06 Taco and only one chip that resulted in a crack necessitating a windshield replacement. Then I had an OEM windshield with no microscopic dings from sand - perfectly clear again!
I say just make sure you've got 100% glass coverage and go from there.

 

‘06 Taco windshields are thicker than current gen glass. In the past 7-8 years auto manufacturers have thinned the glass twice. That’s the reason why glass pops so often now. Subaru owners have a class action lawsuit about it….

 

That’s easily solved if you apply glass shield on the protective film every 3-4 months or so, takes about 10 minutes. The wipers won’t even touch the film.

Also, it will definitely help if you clean your blades once a week.

I see no issue running a protective film to be honest.

 

Yeah, I’m on the second cracked windshield and I’m only at about 35k miles. Never had this issue on any of my vehicles. I don’t tailgate and avoid driving close to big trucks.

Hopefully some kind of protective film will solve this issue.

 

Sorry, but nothing will protect against rocks. It's all about odds. The only way to protect is to add some thick ( think one inch) of protection. It does not exist. Ceramic polish won't help. Thin film won't help. A rock will penetrate all. Again, it is all in the odds.