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History of Nitto Tires and Tomo Mizutani, Part 2

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Welcome to part 2 of the first in our new series about the history of automotive modification companies. If you want to read part 1 of this article, go to the link at the bottom.

Nitto Entering the Truck Market

Nitto’s success with the car market was multiplied when they started focusing on the truck market. Many truck tire sizes were not available in the market at this point. Rims were even being produced by rim companies, like AMT Forged Alloys, with no compatible tire sizes. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Nitto began partnering with many enthusiast-friendly wheel brands.

Before Nitto innovated in the 2000s, one of the greatest difficulties with large tires was balancing. In the early 2000s, Nitto made many breakthroughs with tire balancing, which made tires quieter and more durable. These innovations included thinner strips of material in the spiral wound and jointless construction.

Aesthetically, Nitto answered the market’s demand for a more aggressive-looking tire. Nitto released the Dune, Terra, Trail, and Mud Grapplers. The Mud Grappler left a signature tread mark, which was a hit with customers and enthusiasts alike. Many Nitto enthusiasts were using the tread designs in their hairstyles. People were even getting tattoos that referenced the tread designs. While the more aggressive tread was louder while driving than stock tires, it was quiet compared to competitors with comparable treads.

Nitto Today

In 2016, Nitto introduced the ridge grapplers, arguably the most exciting product they have ever released. The Ridge Grapplers offer offroad tread but were tested to be quiet and smooth. In testing, many could not tell Ridge Grapplers apart from stock tires.

In 2004, the Nitto brand was worth more than 100 million dollars. In 2018, Nitto was evaluated at 600 million dollars. Currently, Nitto is believed to be valued at over a billion dollars (estimated). Tomo Mizutani currently sits as President and CEO of Nitto. Nitto went from being close to bankruptcy to being considered the highest-quality provider on the market.

Their engagement on social media exceeds all other tire companies. They even have a larger social media following than both Honda and Toyota. While Nitto was born in Japan, Nitto is currently based in the United States. The company’s future is looking bright.

Nitto tires were even featured in the Transformers movies. They also sponsor the Dodgers baseball team. They support STEM programs for youth throughout the country.

The youth market has less interest in automobile modification than during the 90s. They will continue to focus on the United States, as they believe their customer base is strong in the USA.

Nitto in Hawaii

In Hawaii, Nitto tires stand as our top recommended tired brand at Intense Motorsports Maui. While they are not the cheapest, we record almost no returns on Nitto products, and they easily make up for the difference in price with the increase in quality. Our story is similar to Nitto’s in that our business changed when we started working with truck modification, as trucks now account for most of our revenue.

If you are nearby and want to see the tires, we have all of them at our physical location and our online store. Check it out! Aloha. Thank you for reading.

History of Nitto Tires and Tomo Mizutani, Part 1
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History of Nitto Tires and Tomo Mizutani, Part 1

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We are starting a new series about the history of automobile modification brands. Today we are going to talk about Toyo’s little brother, Nitto. This article will be split into two parts. A link to the second article will be available at the bottom of this post.

The History of Nitto

The Early Years of Nitto

Nitto arrived on the scene in 1949. Initially, Nitto mainly exported bias ply truck tires and a limited selection of standard-size car wheels. By the 1960s, Nitto was sending tires throughout the global market. Most Nitto customers were in the Middle East and the United States in the 60s. Later, Nitto hit a wall and even hit came close to bankruptcy. More on that later.

Nitto grew rapidly throughout the 60s and 70s, expanding to a California-based sales office. Toyo acquired Nitto in 1979. During the 1980s, Nitto pulled out of the Japanese market due to poor sales in Japan. They showed 6 million dollars in sales in 1992, but again very little from Japan. Most of their revenue came from the United States.

Nitto in the 90s

Tomo Mizutani, the owner of a service shop in Yokosuka, Japan, was a vehicle modification enthusiast. Toyo handpicked Tomo to either fix Nitto or bury it.

After joining Nitto, Tomo traveled to the United States to work at the Nitto US headquarters. At this point, Nitto only had three staff members. He recalls requesting less than ten dollars for a 3-ring hole puncher from Office Depot. He was denied by Toyo’s Japanese office and spent money from his pay on the hole puncher. He recalls this was his first investment since moving to the United States.

He later decided to travel to motor vehicle enthusiasts’ events throughout the United States and hear what potential customers had to say. He started by visiting automotive shops and later attended automotive events. He funded this traveling with his pay as he knew Toyo was more interested in closing down their Nitto branch than investing in his market research.

Learning the Market

He spoke to thousands of potential customers and auto enthusiasts. The most consistent request from enthusiasts was a greater selection of tire sizes. Many enthusiasts said they didn’t care about the brand as much as customizability. The interaction with customers was the turning point for the company. A Japanese company that spoke directly to customers in the United States was somewhat unheard of in the 90s.

In 1995, Tomo was invited to a garage sale in Anaheim. He met the owner of a rim manufacturing company. Since they were not competitors, they shared their market research. This contributed to why Tomo started chasing the younger and hipper auto modification market. Nitto began making products from drag racing and modified Japanese imported cars. While this was a step in the right direction, it didn’t quite give Nitto the revenue it needed.

Nitto released a comic talking about the origin and rise of the company. Check it out.

https://ourstory.nittotire.com/pdf/Nitto_Comic_Final.pdf

Nitto Close to Bankruptcy

During extensive research by Tomo and his team, they were told they had about six months left before bankruptcy with current revenue predictions. With seemingly little to lose, Nitto focused on the enthusiast-friendly products requested by automobile enthusiasts around the United States. This time Tomo wanted to enter the off-road truck market. He saw great potential.

Tomo pleaded with Toyo. He knew that there was an emerging lifted truck trend in the United States. In the late 90s, he requested 25 million to manufacture a new line of truck tires called Grapplers. He was rejected many times by Toyo. Finally, after years of pleading, he agreed that he would resign if the new truck tires weren’t sold.

Mahalo for Reading

Did Tomo end up being able to stay with Nitto, or was he replaced? Check out the next article to see How Nitto pulled through nearly going bankrupt.

History of Nitto Tires and Tomo Mizutani, Part 2


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3 Tips for Buying a Used Car on Maui

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Buying a car on Maui can be a bit daunting, especially coming from the mainland. Because of the smaller market, car prices jump up and down quickly. On the mainland, used car prices tend to be more stable. The following are some general considerations if you are thinking of purchasing a used vehicle here on Maui.

Talk to Others

Talk to others about the market value. Maui is a small pool of people. Hopefully, you have some other residents you can speak to about car prices. You wouldn’t need to get together, you can just send a text or a Facebook message with a link to info about the vehicle you are considering. Extra points if you are messaging a mechanic or even someone who sells used cars.

Try to get references on both the owner of the car and the car itself. Because Maui is such a tight community, you may know someone who knows the car owner. You can get a quick and casual character reference by asking around. While rare, if someone is known to have been dishonest around the island it’s likely they will not be straightforward about their vehicle.

Check the Local Market Value Online

Checking websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist is a great way to get a quick idea of a vehicle’s local market value. Cars on Maui tend to have more ware per mile when compared to cars that were used on mainland freeways. I currently drive a car with over 200k miles. The last 20k miles have been here on Maui. Driving around upcountry Maui has vastly accelerated my vehicle’s deterioration.

Car History Websites

Check the Vin with vechiclehistory.com and Carfax to check your car history.

Get the Vehicle Inspected by a Professional

Have the car inspected by a local mechanic. Many potential issues will be instantly recognizable to a mechanic. Additionally, the mechanic will likely have a grasp on the local market value of a vehicle. They will know if the deal if fair. Come talk to us at Intense Motorsports Maui if you intend to have a used car modified. We will give you a quote and let you know if the car might be a lemon.

Test-drive the Car

I know it may sound obvious but many car owners do not test-drive their car and pay for it later.

Mahalo for Reading

Hope you enjoyed this post. More to come. Aloha.

Burnt Abandoned Car on Maui

Can I Put a Lift Kit On My Car?

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In Maui, the roads can be rough, especially in some of the wetter areas of the island. While trucks are very popular here, a significant portion, of Maui’s drivers, travel in cars. Our island boasts a high percentage of homesteaders, hikers, shore-fishers, and the list goes on. For many of us, owning a truck makes sense. What if we need a truck, but have a car? What are the options? Let’s talk about it.

Move to a Place Where Off-road Vehicles Are Not Necessary

As Maui grows, we tend to have more living options in some ways. We have fewer living options in other ways. Places out in the ‘country’ tend to bit a bit more affordable, while places closer to the airport tend to cost a bit more. It may make sense to move to Kahului or Kihei, where having an off-road vehicle is less of a necessity than the more rural areas of Maui.

Maui is slowly developing a transit system, which is much more accessible in the more populated areas of the island. Bike lanes are becoming more prevalent. In Kihei, it may be a good option to not own a car at all.

A Second Vehicle, The Maui Cruiser

Lifting any vehicle is a substantial investment. It may be a better option to purchase a second vehicle, if a more all-terrain vehicle is required. Because of the high demand for off-road vehicles on the island, used trucks tend to sell for high prices when compared to the rest of the country. Many people own what locals here call a “Maui cruiser.”

A Maui cruiser is usually an older vehicle that tends only to have the most essential maintenance repairs. Many Maui cruisers either are missing windows, or windows no longer function properly. Maybe a door doesn’t open at all, requiring the driver to use the window or passenger side door to exit the vehicle. Most Maui cruisers tend to overheat on drives up Haleakala Hwy.

Lift Your Car?

Lifting a vehicle that isn’t traditionally used for off-road may be the best option if you need some clearance. When I told my friends that I was planning on lifting my 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, most gave me a confused look. While technically I was simply replacing old suspension parts, I did gain about two inches of clearance after the job. My car shows improved performance on turns, acceleration, and braking as a bonus.

While this may seem like a trivial modification, a few inches of clearance and a stiffer suspension can make a world of difference in Maui’s country roads. I’ve lived on a homestead, usually only accessible by four-wheel drive and I was able to get to my house with my Jetta. We do not officially recommend off-roading with vehicles traditionally not used for off-roading. However, the two inches I have added to my car have been tremendously helpful and helped give me peace of mind when driving through some of Maui’s rougher roads.

Getting Bigger Tires

If your vehicle has the clearance, it is worth investigating the option of getting larger tires. With my car, I could probably add an additional inch of clearance if I were to get slightly bigger tires. Also, having tires with good tread will give much-needed extra grip for off-road driving, especially if you lack 4WD.

Mahalo for Reading

We hope you enjoyed this month’s post. If you have any subjects you would like us to comment on please comment below. Also if you are interested in making an unusual modification to your vehicle, please let us know in the comments below.

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Lifting Parts: Spacers, Control Arms, Shocks and Struts

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Photo by dave_7, from the Hemmings Nation Flickr Pool.

At Intense Motorsports Maui, the most common question we answer is, “how can I get my truck higher?” In this post, we aim to serve as an intro to some of the common ways in which vehicles can be lifted. While we don’t openly endorse all of the below methods, trucks can be seen with the following types of lifts throughout the island of Maui.

The method in which you can lift a vehicle is different in the front and back. Some vehicles have significantly different lifting methods between right and left.

What will you be doing with your truck?

Before you decide to lift your vehicle, it’s important to establish your vehicle’s purpose. Are you wanting to drive off-road? Do you want to drive off-road frequently? What type of off-roading will you be doing? Are you more interested in having a high vantage point? Are you raising your truck for aesthetic reasons? Is your raised vehicle also your primary vehicle?

Spacers

Spacers are, usually metal, disk-like components that are placed between the strut/shock and the vehicle’s mount to increase a vehicle body distance from the ground. While spacers are a relatively quick and initially inexpensive solution to get more height out of a vehicle, the performance is almost always inferior to the other options in this post. Some truck owners will add multiple spacers for each tire. We do not recommend using multiple spacers on your vehicle.

Spacers can reduce the quality of the ride. Many will report a ‘rougher’ feeling suspension after installing spacers. Spacers can increase the wear on the cars ball joint. While rare, breaking a ball joint on a moving vehicle is extremely dangerous. Also, spacers can damage the vehicle’s suspension, and in-turn damage the vehicle. It’s important to note that not all spacers are created equal. Minimal height increases from spacers are great. However, vehicle owners try to get larger lifts for lower prices with spacers are dangerous.

Upper / Lower Control Arms

Changing control arms on a vehicle is another modification. Depending on the vehicle, the control arm repair can actually take less time when compared to adding a spacer. Control arms are what attach to the tire assembly to the vehicle.

Strength

Aftermarket control arms tend to be stronger than stock control arms, which increases the safety and durability of the vehicle. When pushing an off-road vehicle to its limits, it’s not unusual for the control arm to hit a rock. The strength of a control arm could determine rather or not the driver is trapped in Maui’s jungles.

Ball joint replacement

Most stock ball joints are not made to endure the performance requirements of extended offload driving. The pressure of a balloon is increased with the addition of an aftermarket spacer or control arm. Ball joints are relatively inexpensive but moderately difficult to install. A poorly installed ball joint is extremely dangerous as the driver will lose control of their vehicle while moving.

Improved ride quality

On occasion, ride quality can be greatly improved with an aftermarket control arm. An existing control arm may be damaged or not utilize a vehicles full dynamic range. Usually, when installing control arms, most vehicle owners also will upgrade their shocks and struts. If you are lifting your vehicle for aesthetic reasons, control arms will make your car ride higher.

Strut / Shock Options

The back of most automobiles uses a spring for each tire. The assemblies which these springs belong to are called struts. The struts determine how much ‘give’ the car has from the driving surface. A stiffer strut will mean that a vehicle can handle a heavier load without riding too low. At the same time, a stiffer strut can also make the ride seem stiffer and can be found by drivers to be unenjoyable. 

Shocks Compared to Struts

Shocks are like struts. The difference between shocks and struts is that shocks utilize a gasket like a mechanism to steady a vehicle’s ‘bounce.’ A spring alone would be too bouncy, creating an undesirable and unsafe driving experience

What Products to Use

This is an important question! Unfortunately, answering this here will take a bit too long. However, every product being sold on this site comes highly recommended. So if you see the product in our online store, it’s a good product. We also recommend consulting a professional in your area. Feel free to comment below or text us if you have additional questions. As said earlier in this post, the poorly installed suspension is extremely dangerous. Mahalo for reading. Aloha.

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Maui’s Endless Summer Cruise, 2019

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On Sunday, August 11th, Maui’s car scene was on fire! The turnout for Maui’s annual Endless Summer Cruise was incredible. So many different cars ranging from Classic Low Riders, Volkswagon Bugs, classy VIP style cars, Lifted Trucks, souped-up Imports and Street Bikes, and rumbling Domestics cars and Chopper motorcycles. Any car enthusiast would be in heaven. 

Our youngest team member

This event was fun for all ages. There were rides for everyone as well as food trucks and a live DJ.

The Endless Summer Cruise is a car event that takes place every year on Maui. Each year the location gets moved. This year’s event took place outside of the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku.

IMM loves to attend these events because we get to have fun, support our community, introduce ourselves and offer help to those who may need it.

We tend to attend most car events on Maui, so if you want to be notified when the next event is, follow us on Instagram.

Some Fast cars right here

Here’s a few of our team’s rides:

IMM loves all types of motor vehicles. If you love your ride and want to take it to the next level, please don’t hesitate to call.

We love big wheels and lifting Trucks
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Intense Motorsports Maui Goes Drag Racing

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On May 26th, IMM’s head of sales Jareth Javier competed at the Maui Raceway Park. He competed in the Import Shootout division against Maui’s top imports. Jareth pilots a turbocharged 1997 Honda Civic Hatchback; which IMM built everything in house. 

While most of the Maui community see IMM as a ‘truck lift shop.’ Few residents are aware that IMM was originally founded by a high-speed enthusiast. We have experienced drag racers in-house. We do turbos, engines, transmissions, ECU’s, tuning, or purchasing and/or mounting slicks. We also are comfortable with both import and domestic racing upgrades.

Besides serving our Maui Drag Race community, we also work with Maui Drifters and the Autocross community. We’ve dialed in drift spec suspensions as well as helped our autocross customers go fast. 

Jareth finished 2nd place in the Maui Import Shootout. His best time was 11.12 at 129mph. 

Maui Raceway Park Info and Schedule  

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Off-road Tires, with Matthias Garcia

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I sat down with Matthias Garcia for a quick talk about tires. At Intense Motorsports Maui, customers often need some information before deciding which tires to purchase. We decided to put something on our website to help.

What are most people looking for when purchasing tires?

The leading factor for most customers is cost.

What should someone look for when deciding what tires to get?

Make sure a tire manufacturer is not a fly by night organization. You want your tires to come from a reputable manufacturer.

Should I purchase tires directly or go through an installer?

It’s always better to purchase tires from an installer. The installer will resolve potential issues between the retailer and the manufacturer. An installer will go to bat for their consumers if they are not getting what they deserve. 

What else should I look at before getting new tires?

Make sure that your alignment and suspension are up to snuff so you don’t compromise tire durability.

What is the most popular truck tire brand here on Maui?

Nitto is the most popular tire brand at Intense Motorsports Maui. The tires are manufactured in both the United States and Japan. It’s a premium tire brand. They offer long life and the most comfortable ride because of their tread design. The Nitto tires we sell include the Mud Grappler, Trail Grappler, Terra Grappler G2, and the Ridge Grappler.

Can you talk about what makes those tires stick out? What makes them different from each other?

The Terra Grappler G2

If you are not concerned about road noise, then I would go with the Mud Grappler.

If you don’t want quite as much noise as the Mud Grappler and you want traditional tire design, go with the Trail Grappler.

The Ridge Grappler is a newer style and is a happy medium between a mud-terrain tire and an all-terrain tire. The tread design is more aggressive than most all-terrain tires but retains a great look.

The Terra Grappler G2 is a true all-terrain tire and one of the longest lasting all terrain tires on the market. We sell several versions of the Terra Grappler G2: the LT-Metric, flotation sizes, and hard metric sizes. The LT-MEtric and flotation sizes last for 50,000 miles; the hard metric sizes last 65,000 miles.

What is the best selling tire here on Maui?

The Nitto Trail Grappler was previously the top seller at Intense Motorsports Maui. However, recently many of our customers go for the Ridge Grapplers too. Currently, Ridge Grapplers and Trail Grapplers sell about equally.

What is your favorite tire?

I don’t know if I have a favorite. I will say that we have Ridge Grapplers on our shop 4Runner and the drive is as smooth as silk.

What other tires do we sell?

We sell lots of Toyo, Atturo, Fuel, RBP, BFG, and Fury. We sell more Nitto than anything. I feel really confident about selling Nitto. Our shop stands behind them.

Mahalo for Reading!

Do you have aftermarket tires on your truck? Are you thinking about getting some? Are there any questions you have for Matt? Let us know in the comments.

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What is Life Like After Lifting Your Truck or SUV?

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Emily is a mom of 3 who owns a Toyota 4Runner. Her boys are very active in sports and she loves that her 4Runner is able to carry everything they need to and from all their activities. She owned her 4Runner for 2.5 years before finally taking the plunge and lifting it. Her lift was 4 inches and she increased her tire size by 1 inch. 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drive or own a lifted truck or SUV? Do you secretly wish your ride looked a little more aggressive? Today we’re going to hear Emily’s (E) and Kupono’s (K) perspective.

What made you want to lift your vehicle?

E: Overall, I like the look of a lifted vehicle and being able to personalize my 4Runner since it is such a common vehicle in Maui.

K: In Hawaii, we occasionally have severe tropical rain and flooding.  Having the extra height and grip gives me the confidence to drive through flood-prone areas safely. I also like to surf, dive, camp, and mountain bike in remote locations around the island. Most of these spots are only accessible by 4wd through sand, mud or lava rock. Being lifted gives me extra clearance and traction to get to and from my adventures with ease.

Did lifting your vehicle change any driving characteristics?

E: Handling did not change and I feel like the 4Runner is one of the easiest SUV’s to drive. The turning radius is on point and I’ve been able to make surprisingly tight turns. Parking is very easy. 

K: There was a slight change in handling. The overall ride felt a bit stiffer. I also had to slow down a little while taking turns at higher speeds due to the higher center of gravity.

After a driving your lifted vehicle for over a year, what do you like about your ride?

E: My 4Runner drives so well, it looks great and it’s low maintenance.  It also can fit all the boys, their friends and all the necessary gear they need for their activities. 

K: I enjoy how my Truck looks way better than stock. 

Do you feel safer driving a lifted vehicle? 

E: I feel very safe.  Sitting higher than stock height, I have better visibility to see potential danger. This is important to me because visibility on the driver side is not the greatest compared to other vehicles I’ve owned.

K: I  feel safer knowing that whatever obstacle or situation i face, I’ll be able to return home safely.

Anything you would do different?

E: I would have gone a little higher on the lift and a little beefier tires. When I buy my next set of tires, they will be bigger. 

K: Don’t go too big. I say 6” lift is a good safe height that doesn’t compromise drivability. I  would also stay away from really wide tires.

How is the vehicle with kids?

E: The kids love it! We have an awesome family vehicle with style!

K: I  don’t have kids yet, but I think I would feel more confident driving a bigger truck/SUV on the road carrying my family than a regular sized vehicle. 

Mahalo for Reading

Let us know if you can relate to these interviews. How would you answer some of these questions?

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Tips on Tinting Windows

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So you just picked up a new ride.  You’re driving around town and you feel like you’re in a mobile fishbowl. It might be time to tint your windows.

Why Would You Tint Your Windows?

One advantage I touched on with the fishbowl reference is privacy. When driving along with tinted windows, it is more difficult for others to look into your vehicle, which makes driving your car more enjoyable because you have a sense of anonymity.  This privacy also extends to your belongings. When parked in a parking lot, it’s harder for thieves to see any valuables sitting on your seat or in your trunk if you have dark windows.  Another benefit of window tinting is safety. When the sun is bright and low, it will eventually be difficult seeing others on the road. Tinted windows cool your eyes, thus keeping you safe by minimizing eye strain on longer drives.

Speaking of cooling, tinted windows also lowers the inner temperature of your car. This UV filtering effect helps to keep the interior temperature lower compared to a vehicle without tinting. Another benefit of blocking out UV rays is that it protects your seats, dashboard, and other parts of your interior from cracking or premature fading. This benefit helps keep your car looking fresh and new for years to come.

Limitations of Window Tinting

The primary disadvantage of window tinting would be the limitation of vision at night or in tunnels.  At night it’s already difficult to see other cars without tinting. Driving in reverse can be exceptionally difficult in the dark. It may be difficult to make out any potential hazards or objects when your rear-windshield is heavily tinted.

How to measure tint darkness?

The darkness of a tint is measured by the amount of visible light that is allowed to pass through the combination of the tint and the window.  In Hawaii, the legal darkness limit for front windows are 35%. This means that your window must allow 35% light to pass through. Always follow individual state guidelines but if you choose to go darker, be sure to choose a tint that allows you to safely operate your car at night.

*Disclaimer: Each state has their own safety guidelines that they set which dictate the allowable levels darkness of tint. Be sure to consult your local installers or agencies ensure your vehicle abides by state laws.

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