What wiper blades should i buy

Rather than the one-piece flat blades of every rival here, the Michelins use an old-fashioned bridged wiper to help it wrap round a curved screen, but enclose it in a soft, rubbery case for better aerodynamics and less wind noise. That might seem rather antiquated, but the blades did a decent job of clearing water and were also quiet.

They did look a little chunky when fitted, though. The box had six fittings for various cars, and the blades slotted straight on to our hooked arm easily. Halfords claims its new Advanced blades are a revolution in the world of wiping. Instead of using vulcanised rubber like almost every other blade on the market, they use silicone.

This material has been tried in wipers before, but was less resilient to extreme temperatures. However Halfords says it has tested the new blades through half a million cycles to ensure durability.

The upside of silicone is that it should apply a water-repellent coating to your windscreen on every wipe, making water bead like the droplets on freshly waxed paint. We had worried this coating could create a haze, but in reality, there was no discernible difference or beading effect. Buy now from Halfords. They were the closest to the original blades on our Land Rover, with a securing clip to hold them in place and an identical design.

The differential between five- and one-star ratings puts it solidly between the Bosch Icon and Rain-X Latitude in how well it works for most people. The Rain-X Weatherbeater has garnered similarly good reviews as the Valeo Some Weatherbeater versions have also earned a high rating from users on Advance Auto Parts. PIAA wipers are available as beam-blade , bracket , and hybrid designs, and on Amazon all get high overall ratings with relatively few negative reviews.

If you want the most effective repellent, pick up the classic Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent and commit to applying it once a month—its effectiveness wears out after several weeks. Once applied, Rain-X forms a hydrophobic coating that causes water to bead up and quickly slide off your windshield—instead of spreading out on the glass—especially at highway speeds. This makes it easier to see through the clear areas between the beads, and takes some of the workload off your wipers.

To give you an idea of how the two compare, check out this YouTube video that shows a day comparison : Rain-X is more effective at first but after a month Aquapel still works even after the Rain-X has all but worn off. Even when perfectly applied, however, these treatments have potential drawbacks. Some people complain that the products cause noticeable haziness at night. So check the return policy and keep the receipt regardless of what you buy and where you buy it.

Sometimes, you can save a few dollars by replacing only the rubber wiping element of your windshield wipers known as a wiper refill or insert , and keeping the existing metal frame. This is an inexpensive way to refresh your wipers that many people have long championed. For many people, installing a refill is more difficult than simply attaching a wiper blade to a car's wiper arm. Spring for a complete wiper blade. As we heard from all of the shops we interviewed, worn wiper arms can come loose or break, marring the windshield or damaging the wiper linkage or motor.

Our pick. Bosch Icon Best windshield wipers for your car This beam-blade wiper is a solid choice for any climate and is consistently among the highest-rated wipers by users. Rain-X Latitude An all-conditions blade with long-term durability Our previous top pick is a beam-blade wiper that has performed well in our long-term tests and has gotten generally good ratings, though not as high as the Bosch Icon.

Also great. Valeo A bracket-type wiper with good long-term performance This traditional wiper performed well in our long-term test and has earned very good ratings on Amazon. Upgrade pick. Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent A best-selling bracket-type wiper The most-effective water-repellent treatment for your windshield and windows.

Buying Options Buy from Lowe's May be out of stock. Everything we recommend. Why you should trust us. When to replace your wiper blades. Types of wiper blades. How we picked. Our pick: Bosch Icon. Runner-up: Rain-X Latitude. Also great: Valeo and Rain-X Weatherbeater. Keep in mind that "universal" mounts are actually one-size-fits-most, and that any adapters included or otherwise may or may not be compatible with your vehicle -- especially with the high-end aftermarket styles.

Also, be honest with what kind of car wiper blade functions you need. For example, if you reside in an area where the weather is relatively mild and consistent, opt for a more affordable replacement wiper rather than splurging on more expensive beam type blade, winter blades or aerodynamic spoilers..

If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, breaking the bank for top-shelf wipers might be worth it. There's no need to install an all-season hybrid when a traditional rubber one will suffice, or to splash out on a contour beam blade when your older vehicle has a flatter windshield. Newer cars tend to have a curved windshield. Conversely, if your vehicle experiences actual seasons, it's worth investing in a premium windshield wiper that can provide streak-free visibility during inclement weather and other conditions.

There's no amount of glass cleaner or rain repellent products that will provide a clearer view of the road ahead or behind than a wiper blade and windshield washer fluid. Sure, the products on this list can last for a couple of years beyond their warranty terms and survive 1 million swipes.

But it's still recommended to change your blades every six to 12 months. Visibility is paramount when operating a vehicle. After all, what you can't see, you can't avoid. Climb in the driver's seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic.

We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Roadshow editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Roadshow staff. The best overall wiper blades Bosch Icon windshield wipers. Jump to details. The best budget wiper blades Anco Series windshield wipers.

The best budget wiper blades runner-up Goodyear Hybrid windshield wipers. The best wiper blades for snow and ice Rain-X Weatherbeater windshield wiper. A top traditional wiper blade choice Trico Exact Fit windshield wiper. A top beam wiper blade choice Aero Voyager J-Hook windshield wiper. A top hybrid wiper blade choice Michelin Stealth Ultra Hybrid windshield wiper.

Here are the main types of windshield wipers: Traditional : The OG of windshield wipers features a metal frame that supports a rubber blade or even just a rubber-coated one. Its simplicity and availability also make the conventional blade the most affordable. Beam : Replacing the traditional metal frame with a hingeless rubber strip, beam blades have increased in popularity as standard equipment on premium vehicles thanks, in part, to the beam wiper's sleek upmarket look.

Although the beam wiper's design applies pressure more evenly, which improves performance, a downside is substances like sand might get clogged due to the wiper assembly's solid shape.

Hybrid : Exactly what it sounds like. This type of blade features elements from both traditional and beam styles. An aerodynamic plastic casing conceals portions of the hinge while maintaining openings for debris to pass through. And the attached beam-style blade provides even pressure and contact distribution. Enlarge Image. The best overall wiper blades. Bosch Icon windshield wipers.

The best budget wiper blades. Anco Series windshield wipers. The best budget wiper blades runner-up. Goodyear Hybrid windshield wipers. The best silicone wiper blades. The best wiper blades for big spenders. Our finder tool will then present you with multiple options to choose from but will tell you exactly what blade you need for each application. Make sure to choose the right wiper blades by size and that they are the closest size as possible to your original wiper blades to receive the maximum amount of clearance for when it rains.

Size matters to a point, just as long as you are about 1 inch higher or lower than your current wiper blade size. If you buy wiper blades that are too big, they might overlap or touch which will cause them to break. Some manufacturers will not produce certain wiper blade sizes simply due to the lack of demand from vehicle manufacturers.

The only difference will be half an inch on either side so the impact on the difference in size will be minimum.

This will completely depend on your wiper arms and how that connection fits into the blades. To double check the correct fitting remove your existing wiper blade from the wiper arm and inspect how it connects. Bosch provides a fantastic set that should cover nearly all of your wiper blade fittings.

Simply place the adaptor you need onto the wiper blade arm and then connect the arm and blade together. Your rear wiper blade will be specific to your vehicle and sometimes choosing the right replacement can be difficult. One of our highly skilled members of the team will be able to assist you as quickly as possible.

Typically, the most difficult adaptor to fit is wiper blades with a hook extension as this tends to be the one that confuses people the most.