It’s a common assumption: “The darker the tint, the cooler the car.” Many car owners in Malaysia believe that dark window films automatically provide the best heat protection. But the truth is, darkness doesn’t equal performance.
In this article, we break down why some darker car tints may still feel hot inside, and how to read the real specs—VLT, IRR, and TSER—before choosing your tint.
1. What Is VLT (Visible Light Transmission)?
VLT refers to the percentage of visible light that passes through your car window:
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A lower VLT (e.g., 15%) means darker appearance
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A higher VLT (e.g., 70%) means lighter appearance
However, VLT is not directly related to heat rejection. You can have a very dark film with poor heat-blocking ability, or a lighter film that blocks more heat using advanced technology.
✅ At Shield Smith, our Alaska Series (nano-ceramic) offers high IRR even at higher VLTs, meaning you stay cooler without needing pitch-black tints.
2. What Is IRR (Infrared Rejection)?
IRR tells you how well a film blocks infrared radiation, which is a major contributor to heat.
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A film with 90% IRR means it blocks 90% of heat from the sun’s infrared rays.
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Some cheap dyed films may have low IRR (around 20–40%), even if they appear very dark.
So, you may end up with a very dark tint that traps heat inside your car because it lacks IRR performance.
✅ Our Prime Series has IRR above 95%, making it one of the top-performing films in Malaysia.
3. What Is TSER (Total Solar Energy Rejection)?
TSER measures how much total solar energy (visible light + infrared + UV) is blocked by the tint.
This is the true indicator of performance. A good tint should offer a high TSER (50% and above) to ensure comfort.
Unfortunately, many low-cost RM200 packages do not disclose TSER, and customers often mistake dark appearance as “good enough.”
✅ Our Divine Series combines nano-ceramic and sputtered film layers to optimize TSER for real-world Malaysian driving conditions.
4. Why Some Dark Tints Feel Hotter
Let’s look at a real-world scenario:
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Cheap Dyed Tint
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VLT: 20%
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IRR: 30%
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TSER: 25%
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Result: Feels dark, but traps heat
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High-Quality Nano-Ceramic Tint
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VLT: 50%
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IRR: 95%
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TSER: 60%
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Result: Looks lighter, but feels cooler inside
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So if your car still feels like an oven with dark tint, chances are it lacks IRR and TSER performance.
5. JPJ Regulations and Misconceptions
Malaysia’s JPJ law requires:
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Windscreen: VLT ≥ 70%
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Front side windows: VLT ≥ 50%
This means super dark tint is actually not legal on certain parts of your car. Some installers darken rear windows and mislead customers into thinking it’ll make the whole car cooler.
✅ Shield Smith ensures legal, high-performance tinting with proper documentation and demo units.
Conclusion
Don’t fall for the darkness trap. The next time someone says, “This one very dark, confirm not hot,” ask for the IRR and TSER specs.
At Shield Smith, we help customers choose films based on real performance—not just looks.
💡 Visit our outlets to experience our full-body heat chamber demo and feel the difference between a dark film and a true heat-rejecting one.
Multilayer Sputtered Window Film
** Installement Plan Up To 24 Months**
