I am debating on whether or not to get a set of tinted tails for my Jeep.
Only thing holding me back is that I am unsure how much grief the local police will give me here.
I don't really want to drop $400 on a set of LED tails and end up having to shelf them after a couple of weeks.

For the meantime I was thinking of just spray tinting an extra set of stock tails a medium dark shade to experiment and get a feel for how much attention I will get from the cops. If they do have issues with them , I am only out a few bucks instead of $400.


I am just concerned that the light output of the stock tails during the day would be crap vs. the LED. I have seen several photos of stock tinted tails on these forums but hard to get a real feel for how much light output they have and how safe they would be. Getting plowed into from behind to do this little experiment of mine would blow a$$. That and the eventual warping of the stockers make these only a temporary solution.

Any of you guys out there running with stock tinted tails , are you satisfied with the amount of light they put out ?

I've seen the stock tinted tails in person and they suck with the filament bulbs. You could swap to LED bulbs and then tint, that's my plan. The bulbs are $50 bucks and the 3ohm resistors are like $15. Not as expensive as the full LED tails but just as bright. I don't have mine tinted yet but could probably post some pics if you want

It will all depend on how dark you go with the tint and how they are actually tinted.

Some painters will get good light transmission and others will be pretty poor.
You can have two sets of tails tinted to the same darkness that will have different light transmission from two different painters.

I have tinted stock's.
They are pretty good. Light output is not that bad.
5.0 don't mess with me. Haven't been pulled over because of it.
They don't even bring it up.
If they do just tell them it came that way.

I've seen the stock tinted tails in person and they suck with the filament bulbs. You could swap to LED bulbs and then tint, that's my plan. The bulbs are $50 bucks and the 3ohm resistors are like $15. Not as expensive as the full LED tails but just as bright. I don't have mine tinted yet but could probably post some pics if you want

Pics would be cool whenever you get the time to post any.
I am guessing the warping issues that people have with stocks would be eliminated if you just went with LED bulbs and resistors in the stock housings?
Or is it the design of the stock housing the main issue? I assume that it is just the heat the stock bulbs put+tint on the lenses out that caused the warping.

As far as led bulbs for stock housing goes , do you happen to know a part # or something I can track down to purchase a set + resistors? If you don't have them handy I will try to do a search for ones that will work

Thanks for your time man.

If you do LED bulbs in the stock tails be sure to mount the resistor in an area that it isn't touching anything and also protected from corrosion.......as they get HOT and if they are exposed to the elements they will rust/corrode.

It will all depend on how dark you go with the tint and how they are actually tinted.

Some painters will get good light transmission and others will be pretty poor.
You can have two sets of tails tinted to the same darkness that will have different light transmission from two different painters.

If clear coated, wet sanded, compounded, glossed, and waxed, does that usually give you better light transmission vs. just using spray tint and leaving them? Dakness of tint of course will effect the light output but hopefully if I prep them and take the time to do the above it would be better.

You don't have to go that dark and still have them tinted lightly. I chose to go light medium like T-Time did. T-Time has the stock tails and I chose to go LED on mine.


http://www.cherokeesrt8.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4305&highlight=tinted+tails

If clear coated, wet sanded, compounded, glossed, and waxed, does that usually give you better light transmission vs. just using spray tint and leaving them? Dakness of tint of course will effect the light output but hopefully if I prep them and take the time to do the above it would be better.

Rattle can spray tint can turn out good if you are very good at spraying.


Actually the way the body shop/painter mixes the "tint", the brand of products that are used, and the manner in which they are applied will all effect light transmission.

You definitely want a clear coat for the gloss.....and the wet sanding and buffing will give you that mirror like finish.

If clear coated, wet sanded, compounded, glossed, and waxed, does that usually give you better light transmission vs. just using spray tint and leaving them? Dakness of tint of course will effect the light output but hopefully if I prep them and take the time to do the above it would be better.

You can definitely go darker with the LED taillights since they are at least 50% brighter (or more) than stock halogen versions.

Yes, if they are tinted correctly the light will be much more visible and uniform. I have two pairs coming back from the painter tomorrow. I will send you some pics. One pair are being done light with a masked reverse while the second pair are being Darth Vadered out.

You can definitely go darker with the LED taillights since they are at least 50% brighter (or more) than stock halogen versions.

Yes, if they are tinted correctly the light will be much more visible and uniform. I have two pairs coming back from the painter tomorrow. I will send you some pics. One pair are being done light with a masked reverse while the second pair are being Darth Vadered out.

I like that bro Darth Vadered out:D

I might end up getting my led's tinted, but I wanna rock the red tails for a while and see how I like em

I suggest getting the LEDs if ur thinking about painting/tinting ...
Stock ones will be too dark and no good light out put and easily attracted to cops !! Just my opinion

I might end up getting my led's tinted, but I wanna rock the red tails for a while and see how I like em

U already got ur LEDs ??!!!!!
Damn ur fast bro haha
I like how u gettin right into it and modding it the right way ;)

Even if u didnt get them LEDs yet, im still gonna say the same thing for getting them NASTY REPLICAS ;)

I got a good deal on a set of tinted 2006 model lights, so I changed the wiring and put them on my 2007. I'm lazy and haven't gotten to the 3rd or fogs, but I have found a local guy I'm going to see this week about them. Heres a pic.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/stang99x/1250805927.jpg

They are pretty dark, and its definately a little harder to see during the day, but easy to see at night. Stock bulbs in the brake lights, came with a giant LED reverse bulb (like spotlights in reverse) Oh yea, and for all the people that go to the troube of hiding their plates, really? I mean, what are you gonna do with it, come to my house and steal it? Thats what insurance is for, then I can get a 2010~

Mine are stock and tinted light"body shop done" been on for a year,just as bright as if it were still stock,looks good done lightly.

Just a quick question , do the 2005-2009 GC tail lights work for an 07 srt8 or is wiring different.

07-10 are the same.

05-06 is different.

07-10 are the same.

05-06 is different.


Hmm , person I bought stockers off of is wrong for sure. Was told they were for 05-09 normal GC.

07-10 are a 2 bulb setup with 2 plugs........05-06 are a 3 bulb setup with one plug.