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Can you ride with a dark or tinted visor?
Not everyone is clear on which visor you can use on public roads and which visor is better for use on the circuit. In this article, you can read whether you are allowed to use a visor on public roads.
What is a visor and how important is it?
The ECE inspection authority describes a visor as follows: “Visor” means a transparent protective screen that extends over the eyes and fully or partially covers the face.
A visor is an important part of the motorcycle helmet and contributes to the safety, comfort, and protection of the motorcyclist while riding. It is important to ensure that the visor is in good condition and that it complies with the legal requirements of the country where you are riding.
How can I tell if I am allowed to use my visor on public roads?
To determine which helmet visors you can use on public roads, the visor must be equipped with an ECE label. A circle containing the letter “E”, followed by the number of the country that has granted approval.
If this is not present, you are not allowed to use it. Additionally, the visor is marked with the imprint “If tinted, for daytime use only”. This means that if the visor has an ECE label and is tinted, you may only use it during the day.
Different types of visors
With most helmets, you can easily switch the visor to change the look of the helmet or to replace a scratched visor. There are several different types of visors available to place on your helmet.
- Clear visor
- Light tinted visor
- Dark tinted visor
- Iridium or mirror visor
- Photochromatic visor
How dark can my visor be?
A tinted visor must let at least 35% of the light pass through to get the ECE-label. If the tinted visor allows less light through, then it is a dark visor and belongs on the track. Pay particular attention to the ECE-label and the mention “Daytime use only”. Below you can read what is stated under section 6.16.3.4 of the new ECE 22.06 standard.
Race helmets often do not have an integrated sun visor, this is to keep the helmet light. By equipping the helmet with a tinted visor, you can maintain a good view of the road in bright sun or daylight, without tiring your eyes.
Can I ride with an iridium or mirror visor?
The rules for tinted visors also apply to iridium visors. A clear visor with iridium coating can be used during the day, a tinted visor with iridium coating may or may not have an ECE label, depending on the tested light transmission.
Can I drive with a photochromatic visor?
A photochromic visor may be the darkest in its fully tinted state, with a minimum light transmission of 20%. Keep in mind that a photochromic visor will gradually become lighter or darker, and when entering a tunnel, you run the risk of temporarily seeing less as your visor clears. During these moments, the photochromic visor is not considered safe, and for this reason, the presence of the ECE label is not guaranteed with this type of visors. Also, law enforcement won’t pull you over as fast with this kind of visor to check the label.
Tolerance Policy
We are aware that not every country strictly enforces the rules and exercises a policy of tolerance (turning a blind eye) if you drive with a visor without an ECE label. Other countries such as Luxembourg and Germany are known for being strict, they regularly pull over motorcyclists to check the visor for the presence of a valid ECE label.
Maintaining visors for a long lifespan
It’s important to keep your helmet visor scratch-free for as long as possible and to use the correct maintenance products. Scratches will obstruct your vision and catch more light from oncoming traffic. Maintenance with the wrong products will damage the structure of the visor, resulting in cracks. Always use visor cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean your visor. Be careful with visors that have a reflective effect, this reflective coating is very fragile.
To prevent your visor from fogging up, you can install a Pinlock lens. Check if your visor is Pinlock prepared, you can often see this right away by the presence or absence of Pinlock pins in the visor.
We would like to refer you to our motorcycle helmet maintenance tips blog to get the most out of your helmet.
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.
[…] Visors that let through ≥ 80% of light receive the ECE label for use both during the day and at night. The minimum light transmittance for tinted visors drops from 50% to 35%. A visor with a light transmittance between 80%-35% gets the label “Daytime Use Only”. It will therefore become possible to use a darker tinted visor during the day. A clear label will be used to indicate whether a visor is only suitable for daytime use (daytime use only). As you may already know, it is not safe to drive at night with a tinted visor. You can read more about this topic in our “tinted visors” blog. […]
[…] Always be alert to other road users and be defensive in your driving behavior. Anticipate possible dangers and keep a sufficient distance from other vehicles. Also take into account changing traffic conditions and traffic rules depending on the countries you cross and adjust your driving style. Keep in mind that speed limits can vary on different roads, such as highways, city streets and rural roads. In some countries, you are required to wear reflective stickers on your motorcycle helmet and there are stricter controls on tinted visors. […]