1. Don’t Roll Down Your Windows Straight Away
Right, so you’ve just had your windows tinted. Common job here — from Suzuki Swifts to Toyota Estimas, folks from Hamilton to Cambridge love a smart-looking tint. But here’s a mistake we see: people getting keen and winding the windows down too soon. After your tint goes on, you’ve gotta leave those windows up for a few days, even if you’re itching for some fresh air on Te Rapa Straight or down through Morrinsville Road traffic.
If you drop the glass too early, you’ll risk bubbles, peeling, or weird creases in the film. Happens more often than you’d think, especially with the stop-start mess around Five Cross Roads when you just want a bit of breeze. Just follow the installer’s advice, and give that tint time to settle in so it stays looking mint.
2. Use the Right Cleaner — Not Just Any Old Stuff
When you’re doing your regular tidy-up (trust us, it’s needed after a weekend footy run out to Raglan), be careful what you’re spraying on your tint. Plenty of the cheap window cleaners out there have ammonia or harsh chemicals that’ll eat away at your film over time. We see it all the time: someone brings in their Hyundai Ioniq or that Skoda Octavia and the rear tint’s gone all patchy or cloudy.
Stick with a tint-safe spray — none of that blue bottle supermarket stuff. Always use a soft microfibre cloth too, not those scratchy old rags from the boot. Gentle circles, nothing rough. Keeps your tint looking schmick, even after a drive through the mud in Rototuna or a week of fog on SH3.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Any Dodgy Spots
Bit like what we say for WOF checks — have a nosey every now and then. Just stand outside and look over your tint for bubbles, scratches, or peeling. Especially if you’ve been bouncing over potholes down Avalon Drive or the speed humps on Boundary Road, you might notice stuff working loose.
If you spot the odd bubble, sometimes a plastic squeegee can fix it — had a customer with a Peugeot 308 last week, sorted in five minutes. But if the film’s actually peeling or got decent damage, bring it in before it gets worse. Regular checks mean you catch problems early, instead of letting the sun bake it until it’s past saving.
4. Protect From Hamilton’s Wild Weather Swings
Anyone who’s parked at The Base in summer or left their car in Frankton in winter knows just how tough our weather is on cars. Tint helps with the UV, but baking heat or weeks of heavy fog will still wear it down after a while.
Best thing? When you can, park in the shade. Or chuck a sunshade on your windscreen, especially if you’re working odd hours or heading out to Te Kowhai or Ngaruawahia for the day. Keeps the tint from fading, and your car stays cooler too. Makes those old Honda Odysseys or newer Mazda 3s much nicer to hop into when the temps are swinging.
Wrapping It All Up
Window tint’s not just for looks — it keeps the sun out and helps your car last longer. Just takes a few easy habits: wait before winding them down, use the right cleaner, keep an eye out for bubbles and scratches, and give your car a break from the sun when you can. Trust me, we’ve seen every type of window tint fail here in Hamilton, and it’s usually because folks don’t know these simple tricks.
If you want your tint to stay sharp, or you’re thinking about getting one fitted, Grimmer Motors has you covered. We do car service Hamilton-wide, sort out WOFs, and handle all sorts of vehicles from European hatchbacks to old-school Japanese wagons. Have a question or want to book in? Take a look at our car window tinting services.