A windshield is the most expensive single piece of glass on a modern vehicle. On an ADAS-equipped car it is also the most expensive to replace, because the camera housing and calibration are built into it. KSB manufactures the AK 85 clear exterior windshield protection film for tint shops, fleet operators and film distributors who need a sacrificial layer that stops road debris before it reaches the glass.
AK 85 is not a heat-rejection product. It is an impact layer that goes on the outside of the glass, stays optically clear, and takes the hit instead of your customer’s windshield. That difference is what makes it a good add-on sale for an installation shop that already does tint and PPF.
Our Windshield Protection Film Range
KSB AK 85 Clear Exterior Windshield Protection Film
One grade, one job: clear rock-chip protection for front windshields. AK 85 is 7.5 mil TPU with a high-scratch-resistance top coat, and it is supplied in a roll format that suits both small trial orders and container volume.
- 7.5 mil thickness with a TPU base that absorbs minor rock impacts
- Over 91% visible light transmission with haze below 0.8%
- 99.9% UV resistance measured on a UV meter
- Gravelometer chip impact testing with no affected area
- Adhesive strength above 200 gf/inch to ASTM D3330
- Scratch recovery in under 10 minutes with a copper brush
- No heat gun shrinking needed, so a standard windshield takes about 1.5 to 2 hours
AK 85 Technical Data
| Property | Result | Measurement | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product thickness | 7.5 mil | µm | Thickness gauge |
| Adhesive strength | >200 | gf/inch | ASTM D3330 |
| Scratch restoration | <10 | min | Copper brush, room temp 23°C |
| Water contact angle | 105 | ° | ASTM D5946 |
| UV resistance | 99.9 | % | UV meter |
| Transmittance | >91 | % | CM3600A Konica |
| Haze | <0.8 | % | CM3600A Konica |
| Stone chip resistance | No affected area | – | Gravelometer chip impact testing |
| Stain resistance (water, soap, acid rain, bird droppings) | No affected area | – | Japan test standard |
Full product details and current pricing are on the KSB AK 85 windshield protection film product page.
Why Shops Stock Windshield Protection Film
It Absorbs the Impact Instead of the Glass
Quality film absorbs the large share of minor rock impacts that happen at highway speed. It reduces the risk; it does not remove it. A large stone at the wrong angle will still crack the glass, so sell it as risk reduction rather than a guarantee. One saved windshield covers the cost of several installs.
It Stays Out of the Way of ADAS
AK 85 is non-metallic and radio-transparent, so cameras, radar, GPS and toll transponders keep working. The installer cuts a clearance window around the camera housing and rain sensor, which is standard practice on this type of film.
It Blocks Almost All UV
99.9% UV resistance matters most for fleet and rental customers who keep vehicles on the road all day. The interior stops fading and the dashboard does not go brittle, which is an easy selling point to a commercial buyer.
It Cuts the Number of Windshield Replacements
A standard replacement runs a few hundred dollars. An ADAS-equipped windshield averages around $1,500 installed, before any body work or recalibration. That gap is the whole business case, and it is why the product moves fastest on newer and more expensive vehicles.
Where AK 85 Sells Best
Luxury and ADAS-Equipped Vehicles
Cars with a head-up display, acoustic laminated glass and an integrated camera housing carry the highest replacement cost. A Tesla Model 3 or Model Y windshield alone is $800 to $1,500 installed.
Fleet, Buses and Rental Cars
Buses, delivery vans and rental fleets keep vehicles earning every day. AK 85 is also a good theft deterrent on parked vehicles, because the film makes a smash-and-grab noisy and slow.
Off-Road and Recreational Vehicles
Roads that are not motorways are where chips come from. Off-road, agricultural and site vehicles take the highest ratio of debris per mile of anything on the road.
Installation and Maintenance
How Installers Fit AK 85
The film goes on the outside of the glass. Wiper arms and cowl items come off first, the glass gets a clay bar and an alcohol wipe, and the film is pre-fitted dry before it goes on wet. AK 85 does not need heat gun shrinking, so a standard windshield is a 1.5 to 2 hour job. Read our guide to exterior windshield protection film for tint shops for the full workflow and the pricing a shop can charge.
Monthly Wax Keeps the Hard Coat Working
A monthly wax coat is part of the maintenance programme, not an optional extra. The installer applies an initial coat at fitment, then the owner reapplies automotive protective wax every month. That keeps the scratch resistance and water repellency active and seals the film against bird droppings, bugs, oil, tar and road grime.
Removal Without Residue
The film lifts from one edge and peels off with slow, consistent pressure using a hard plastic or stainless steel blade. Any adhesive left on the glass comes away with a non-caustic adhesive cleaner, and a new sheet can be fitted to the clean windshield straight away.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is windshield protection film legal?
Clear film that keeps the combined light transmission at or above 70% is generally allowed in the US and under UNECE R43. AK 85 is optically clear, so it does not darken the glass. A dark windshield film is a different product and is not legal.
Does it interfere with ADAS cameras or rain sensors?
No. The film is non-metallic and radio-transparent, so cameras, radar, GPS and transponders keep working. The installer cuts a clearance window around the camera housing and rain sensor.
Can I put it on top of window tint?
Yes, because they sit on opposite sides of the glass. Tint goes inside for heat and UV, and the protection film goes outside for impact.
How long does the film last?
It is a wear item, not a permanent coating. Expect 2 to 4 years in normal service and longer on a garage-kept, low-mileage vehicle. Service life depends on mileage, the conditions the vehicle operates in, and whether the monthly wax routine is followed.
Is the film permanent?
No. The adhesive keeps the film tightly bonded without making it permanent, and the product is warrantied not to peel, bubble, crack or yellow. Longevity on any given vehicle depends on mileage, operating conditions and correct care.
Contact Us for a Quote
We manufacture AK 85 in our own factory and can quote a sample, a trial roll or a container quantity. Send us your destination port, the film thickness you need and the order size, and we will come back with an FOB price and a packing spec.
WhatsApp +86 132 4647 7797 or contact the KSB team for a same-day reply.
