Window visors are probably one of the most underrated car upgrades. Sure, they’re not as cool as the spoilers, bumpers, and side skirts. But window visors, to be honest, are more awesome than you think.
They’re not as flashy as the more popular mods, but they’re just as functional. And they’re certainly a must-have!
If you’re looking to buy a set of window visors, we whipped up a mini-buying guide for you to use as a reference. This guide will ultimately help you decide what window visors you should get for your car or your truck.
But before we get to the meat, let us explain first why you need window visors in the first place. If you’re a new car owner, and you know nothing yet about mods, this piece is for you!
Benefits of Installing Window Visors
- Fresh and cool air ventilation
When the weather’s nice, sometimes you just want to turn off the AC and open the windows a little to let the outside air ventilate the car. Which is a good idea! It can help you save some fuel.
But what if it’s raining? Or what if you’re passing through a dusty road? Would you still open the windows?
Well, if you don’t have window visors installed on your car, you probably wouldn’t! But if you already have a set, you’ll be confident to open those windows as long as you want.
Because that’s the beauty of window visors on your car. They channel the rain, snow, dust, and other elements away from your window while letting some cool air flow through the car’s window.
- Wind noise reduction
Allowing more wind to pass through your vehicle has its downsides. Depending on where you’re driving, too much wind will also create a lot of ear-popping noise.
This is where high-quality window visors come in. They reduce wind noise by redirecting the wind upward and over your car so it won’t go inside. But don’t get us wrong, you’ll still get to enjoy that nice temperature from outside!
- Demisting the windows
Fog is inevitable during chilly weather. But not when you have window visors installed on your car. Window visors prevent condensation from happening by demisting your car’s windows so you can still see what’s on your left or your right when driving.
Now that you know why wind visors are a must-have, it’s time for the real question here.
What window visors should you choose?
When choosing the right window visors, there are a lot of factors that come into play. To help you narrow down your options, below are some of the key features that you must consider before buying a set of window visors:
Type – Window visors can either be universal or custom-made. Universal window visors are the more popular and cheaper option while custom-made ones can be very expensive.
Vehicle fit – If you decide to buy the universal ones, make sure that they’re the right fit for your car. Most manufacturers specifically design window visors for certain car models and indicate them on the packaging so it would be easier for you to identify which one is the right fit.
Durability – Window visors, although they’re generally not tough-looking, also take some beating from outdoor elements like torrential rains, snow, and extreme heat. So you must take the toughness of the product into account.
The last thing you want to happen is to buy new window visors every now and then just because the ones you bought are not durable enough.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s now move on to the two main categories of window visors. Generally, there are two categories of window visors that you can pick: tape-on and in-channel. And each type has its pros and cons. To help you narrow down your choices, let’s dive into those advantages and disadvantages.
Tape-on Window Visors
As the name suggests, these visors are attached to the frame of your car by using strips of pre-applied and automotive-grade tape. Don’t worry these tapes are sturdy enough so you don’t have to worry about loose visors.
Pros
- Easy installation – you don’t have to hire professionals to install these visors. You can do it yourself. Just make sure to clean the window frame thoroughly before sticking the window visors on!
- No window contact – because these are attached to the frame, you don’t have to worry about the scratches on the glass.
Cons
- Harder to remove – this is one of the pros of using high-quality tapes. Removing them, in case you want to change styles or colours can be a bit of a challenge.
- Left out gunk – and if you do succeed in removing them, the left-over adhesive residue is not a good sight. And they can be difficult to clean, too!
In-channel Window Visors
Unlike with the tape-on types, there’s no adhesive, drilling, or other tools involved. Installing these in-channels largely depends on the perfect fit between the visors and the window channels.
Pros
- Sleek finish – this type is perfect for car owners who want a smooth and low-profile finish on their car because the mounting flanges are hidden in the channels.
- Easy to remove – unlike the tape-on, the in-channel visors are easier to remove so you can change your style anytime!
Cons
- Rattling – some drivers who have been using these visors report that they begin to rattle or loosen after a year or two. While this could be a brand quality issue, you can consider this when buying a visor for your car.
- Scratches – if not installed properly, the in-channel visors can make contact with the glass panes since they’re practically in the way of the top portion of your windows. If you choose these visors, make sure to have them properly installed.
These are only some of the considerations that you need to ponder on whenever you need to buy a new set of window visors. Make sure to take note of all these so you’d be able to find the best window visors for your car!