I have AIR80 on all of my windows, so I speak from experience. I love it. I hate dark tints because I can't see pedestrians at night without opening windows. I live in the middle of a desert and the tint blocks a significant amount of heat without any major vision impairment. I used the term "major" on purpose, this stuff is not perfect. It appears that the nano-ceramic infrared absorbing particles polarize different colors of visible light differently. Why does this matter? My wife and I both have AIR80 on our windshields. I have no issues with it except that under the right lighting conditions, the road ahead of me looks purple when I am wearing my prescription sunglasses. However, my wife tends to wear cheap drug store sunglasses and under the right lighting conditions the sky is full of vertical rainbows. I have looked through her sunglasses and seen this phenomenon. She thinks it is "pretty" and has simply gotten used to it, but I thought you should know the whole story before you make up your mind. The dealer probably had a piece you can look through - go outside and put on your sunglasses and look around and maybe rotate the sample you are looking through. It might be interesting. AIR80 film is also thicker than most other films in order to accommodate more of the heat blocking particles.
Have Fun!
Don
P.S. I just talked to my tint guy yesterday. I now have an appointment for next week to install "Silver17" metallic film on my panoramic sunroof (moonroof?). Unlike most other tint films, it is designed to reflect infrared not absorb it.
This is what the 3M site says about Crystalline (OVER 200 layers!);
"If you are looking for the ultimate in high technology, superior clarity and performance with a premium look – Then 3M Crystalline Automotive Window Film is for you. 3M Crystalline Automotive Window Films feature a proprietary, multilayer optical film technology that combines over 200 layers in a film that is thinner than a Post-it® Note. This unique technology is the reason a clear film can reject more heat than darker films, without changing your car's appearance.
Solar heat comes from two primary sources, the visible light you can see and the infrared light you can feel. Crystalline window films reject up to 97% of the sun's heat producing infrared light and block up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows. These industry-leading, spectrally-selective films are designed to keep you cool, comfortable and protected.
Designed to maintain the appearance of your car, Crystalline films allow up to 90% of the light into your vehicle. Because these films are non-metallized, you can be assured of zero interference with GPS or cell phone signals."
Thanks, I'll check the tint at different angles with sunglasses on as you suggested!
