Anyone tried windshield treatments to stop cracks?

[Chetcpo]

I have a 100 highway mile commute to work every day and my windshield gets a different crack almost once a month. 70mph limit interspersed with three separate 55mph construction zones and big dump trucks pulling on and off the highway. I've found speed doesn't matter nor how far back I follow or which lane I'm in as to whether or not it happens. I've been hit and had it break driving in the slow lane with no vehicle in front of me. Rocks literally get thrown over the divider wall. So I just had a new windshield put in and I was considering trying something I found called "ShatterX". (https://www.shatterx.com/)
It's $30 for wipes that are supposed to somehow protect your glass. I can't afford Gorilla Glass so if anyone has had success protecting their new glass I'd love to hear how.
Thanks.

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[Jaydebe]

IMO, Gorilla Glass. I’ve had it in for 10k miles with quite a few strikes; ZERO issues so far and it’s the cost of 2 normal windshields.
hyperformanceglassproducts

 

[CWGrisw0ld]

Racing Optics windshield film. 15k miles, no cracks so far (knock on wood)

https://www.racingoptics.com/industries/windshield/

 

[Mkcagle]

For $30 it sounds worth a try. Nothing lost if it is bogus.

 

[AEsco48]

Racing Optics windshield film. 15k miles, no cracks so far (knock on wood)

https://www.racingoptics.com/industries/windshield/

How much for the Jeep? How many layers?

 

[BAT]

Racing Optics windshield film. 15k miles, no cracks so far (knock on wood)

https://www.racingoptics.com/industries/windshield/

Did you have any issues with contaminants, etc when installing. I think I saw someone else said they went this route and somehow dust or other stuff got on it and messed it up. Was just curious as this might be the route I got next window change

 

[hjdca]

Did you have any issues with contaminants, etc when installing. I think I saw someone else said they went this route and somehow dust or other stuff got on it and messed it up. Was just curious as this might be the route I got next window change

I also have Racing Optics film for about 14K miles or so. It is clear as glass with no distortion. There are three layers, and I only had to peel off 1 layer so far. No cracks and I really like it. I have heard plenty of hits with no cracks. I scratched the crap out of the first layer when my windshield was full of dirty water and I turned on the windshield wipers, so, I have only been running 2 layers for the last 5K miles or so. I clean my windshield by hand with rain-x cleaner, that keeps me from scratching the film.

Yes, it is important that you clean the windshield, then, clean it again, then, clean it again before the installation - any little speck will be magnified by the film. It is best to do it in a closed garage when it is not windy outside. The other thing is to press really hard with the squeegee. There are three layers of film, so, you should press as hard as you can to squeegee as much water as you can from under the film. You might also want to put the film in the sun for a little while to make it more pliable for installation.

It's really a great solution, just be a little conscience to not scratch it. It is still plastic and it will scratch if you rub dirt and mud on it.

 

[Ridgeline]

Racing Optics has a different domain for purchasing the Jeep product. It's $200.

https://racingopticsjeep.com/

 

[CWGrisw0ld]

Install was ok. I was sure that I screwed it up on the 1st day with quite a few bubbles and an edge that wouldn't lay down. 24 hours in the sun eliminated 99% of them. You could always have a tint shop install it for you if you are nervous about it or don't have garage access.

 

[BAT]

Install was ok. I was sure that I screwed it up on the 1st day with quite a few bubbles and an edge that wouldn't lay down. 24 hours in the sun eliminated 99% of them. You could always have a tint shop install it for you if you are nervous about it or don't have garage access.

Yep I have no garage access..

 

[hemigeno]

I had a rock chip the size of a dime back in February (~3 months after delivery), and installed the Racing Optics film right after SafeLite did their fix. Overall the film worked well, and it took a few hits without visible marks - until last night when something fairly large and metal spun up from a passing vehicle's tire. It smacked the windshield HARD. I still had all three layers of the film in place but the windshield is toast.

If Gorilla Glass is just a couple of weeks out for JT's with Forward Collision Warning, I may wait. The upcharge for GG is probably not too far removed from the cost of Racing Optics film if I had a pro install it (and yes, I installed the film last time - just doing an equal comparison).

One thing I did not like about RO film was that you could not wash your windshield with anything other than a microfiber cloth... otherwise it would leave scratches that won't come out until you tear off one of the layers.

 

[XJADDICTION]

Well after 47,000 miles and still on original windshield it came to its end Tuesday morning on my way through Chicago. A car with darkly tinted windows weaved past a bunch of us in a construction zone, back passenger window rolled down and I saw two arms throw something out. My mind saw the bouncing round things that were thrown in mass, and I noticed cars swerving and saw a car’s windshield ahead and to the right explode. Then two came bouncing over my hood together and took out my windshield. I’ve had to play this over in my head many times to even try to figure out what they tossed out the window. I think they were large steel ball bearings. They were bouncing all over the place and took out several windshields. I was going about 50mph. If I had been going 70+ they would have come through my windshield. The top hit almost came through at 50 mph.

No glass would protect that. Maybe bulletproof... still would have cracked even that.

My thing after having several Jeeps, is to stay away from the back of a dump truck. Change lanes, speed up or slow down whatever it takes. I’ve lost more Jeep windshields from dump trucks than any other way.

Steel ball bearings... yeah that’s a new one for me. Last picture is from inside the JT.

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[TheSolarWizard]

^ those subhumans are in desperate need of a high dose of 2A re-education

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