Please educate me about Trico's premium wipers

[oilboy123]

I had the OE wipers on my 2016 Focus for about 6 years. I replaced only because they were starting to crack. They still wiped good. I replaced with Trico Silicone/ceramic beam wipers. I was happy with them. My daughter/husband bought the Rain X for the vehicles they drive. They were not happy. I had used them in the past, and they were OK.

I put the Trico silicone/ceramic beams wipers on both of the cars they drive. She said they are doing good. I live where it rains a lot. So it makes for good testing of wipers.

 

[nthach]

Trico have been hit or mis for me. I've always had the longest life out of Rain-X, Michelin or Valeo blades.

Michelin blades are currently Trico. I’ve been surprised by the el cheapo framed ones from Walmart but they don’t last that long. The Costco ones seem decent.

 

[Carlostrece]

I just checked for best prices and availability of Trico Titan, Ultra, Maxx, and Silicone Ceramic.

Walmart Prices
Trico (premium) 22 inch wiper blades
Ultra $17
Titan $21
Maxx not available
Silicone Ceramic $32

Trico Maxx is only available from a few oddball sellers, such as on Ebay $19.

Trico Maxx are supposedly an Advance Autoparts exclusive, but Advance Autoparts doesn't have any Maxx for sale. I think Maxx may be discontinued.

@slacktide_bitog are you sure that Titan and Ultra are the same wiper with different names? Walmart sells both, but each at a different price. I'm confident that Titan and Maxx are the same premium wiper, but Maxx is (nearly) unobtainium. I think Maxx was discontinued.

My research suggests that Titan and Maxx are likely the same wiper (with Z7 synthetic enhanced rubber blade). Ultra might be one step down in the tier, but I'm not sure. I read conflicting info about Ultra's place in the hierarchy.

 

[Carlostrece]

I'll state the obvious in case anyone doesn't know this. Before you install new wipers, thoroughly wash your windshield. I like to use Sprayway glass cleaner and white paper towels. A clean windshield gets your new blades off to a good start.

However, often you don't need new blades. Often you just need to clean the old blades and windshield.

When old blades smear or streak, it's often caused by a dirty windshield and dirty blades. Cleaning the windshield and blades with Sprayway and white paper towels can often restore functionality to old blades. Sprayway sprayed on rubber or silicone blades will not harm the blades. Let Sprayway foam sit on the windshield and blades for 2 min before wiping if off using clean dry white paper towel.

(Yes the color of paper towel matters.)

Repeat as many times as necessary on the blades until they no longer make the white paper towel dirty.

If old blades chatter, then don't bother cleaning them because their rubber is old and hard. Blade replacement is the only option.

Inspect old blades before cleaning. If old blades are cut/torn or missing chunks, then don't bother cleaning them because their rubber is ruined. Blade replacement is the only option.

Blade refills cost less than a whole new wiper frame. However, refills are less commonly available than they used to be.

 

[Carlostrece]

Also, use Sprayway on inside of windshield. Sprayway will not harm rubber, vinyl, or leather. So don't worry if some overspray gets on vinyl or leather interior.

After spraying inside of windshield with Sprayway, let the foam sit on window for 2 minutes. Then wipe off using clean white paper towels.

When windshield is clean on inside surface, it won't fog up much, or not at all.

Water vapor (fog) easily sticks to dust, dirt, and oils (fingerprints) on inside of window. Thus easily fogging up.

Water vapor cannot stick to clean glass or plastic. At least not as much. So a clean windshield will have much less fogging, or no fogging. Same with side windows and rear window. Same with your glasses, camera lenses, binoculars, scopes.

I learned this when I was a photographer. Clean camera lenses and clean eyeglasses are less prone to fogging. Modern camera and eyeglasses lenses are plastic.

Cleanliness is next to Godlyness. This principle applies to all glass and plastic items, but applies to glass more than plastic.

 

[Johnny248]

I used to always buy Trico. Quality has taken a turn though in my opinion. I currently have a set of of their silicone blades, and they are just ok. I have a set of Power Clean on another vehicle that I have been very happy with. Valeo seems to get very good reviews. Availability is an issue though.

 

[Capt W]

Don't see why people put so much thought into wiper blades. You can buy Trico Exact Fit (and similar Valeo, Anco, etc.) for two bucks each from the Rock Auto closeout section. Add a few with your orders to have some bench stock. Change as needed. For me, it's every 6-12 months. Wiper blades, regardless of brand/composition/gimmickry, are still subject to bird crap, bug splat, sun, sand, and debris. Paying stupid prices doesn't alleviate this.

 

[pacstud]

I have Rain X Silicone, very quiet (beam).

For me now, including Trico, I only go RA. Their prices on wipers is nuts. The Rain X Silicone I think are 25 a pop at walmart, I got them for 13 ea at RA. Things like high end filters, wipers, or other replaceables I like to throw in on an order to max the shipping value, and then just store em.

 

[nthach]

I used to always buy Trico. Quality has taken a turn though in my opinion. I currently have a set of of their silicone blades, and they are just ok. I have a set of Power Clean on another vehicle that I have been very happy with. Valeo seems to get very good reviews. Availability is an issue though.

I have Valeo Canopys on the parent’s RXh. They seem to work OK. Valeo is the OEM blade on that. I’ve also noticed Valeo is Toyota’s supplier for some models, while Denso(NWB) supplies the others. The Camry and a friend’s Tundra also use a Valeo-looking blade as OEM. Valeo bought out the SWF line from ITT Automotive when Conti took over the ATE brake business. They were a common wiper to see on German cars along with Bosch.

Bosch is also another OEM supplier, but for the aftermarket, the nicer lines(Focus, Icon, AeroTwin) seem to work better than the cheaper lines.

 

[Silverado12]

FWIW, lately I've been using the Trico USA made blades and they're good and reasonably priced at the Rock. I also use Valeo. They used to make their wipers, power window motors, wiper motors, engine cooling fans and shrouds, etc. in Rochester (Lyell Ave. plant). I had a regular run that went there and it ended in 2004 when they sent their production to MX. Very sad day for those who worked there and for me but I think they still made their hydraulic fan motors there (for the Jeep Grand Cherokee).

 

[normal username]

A friendly PSA: My local Wal-Mart had Trico ICE beam blades on clearance for $4 a blade! I bought a pair for my car and they'll last me easily a few years. Check all around the auto section where they have random things on clearance. I've used this on rain and snow and they've been pretty fantastic.

Don't overthink it, they're just wiper blades -- as long as they don't break off at high speed with weak connection points you should be good.

 

[Carlostrece]

Don't see why people put so much thought into wiper blades.

It rains 5 to 6 months a year where I live. It you got that much rain you'd think about wipers a lot. People who get a lot of snow or ice also havd reasons to think about wipers a lot.

You can buy Trico Exact Fit (and similar Valeo, Anco, etc.) for two bucks each from the Rock Auto closeout section. Add a few with your orders to have some bench stock. Change as needed. For me, it's every 6-12 months. Wiper blades, regardless of brand/composition/gimmickry, are still subject to bird crap, bug splat, sun, sand, and debris. Paying stupid prices doesn't alleviate this.

Yes a person can buy cheap blades and change them often. Buying better blades and changing them less often is another viable solution. Either approach works in some climates, but in some climates using better blades is the only good option.

 

[Carlostrece]

I have Rain X Silicone, very quiet (beam).

For me now, including Trico, I only go RA. Their prices on wipers is nuts. The Rain X Silicone I think are 25 a pop at walmart, I got them for 13 ea at RA. Things like high end filters, wipers, or other replaceables I like to throw in on an order to max the shipping value, and then just store em.

Good idea. Rock Auto is good. However, the Trico Exact Fit that I'm currently using only costs $10 at Walmart.

 

[Carlostrece]

I have Valeo Canopys on the parent’s RXh. They seem to work OK. Valeo is the OEM blade on that. I’ve also noticed Valeo is Toyota’s supplier for some models, while Denso(NWB) supplies the others. The Camry and a friend’s Tundra also use a Valeo-looking blade as OEM. Valeo bought out the SWF line from ITT Automotive when Conti took over the ATE brake business. They were a common wiper to see on German cars along with Bosch.

Bosch is also another OEM supplier, but for the aftermarket, the nicer lines(Focus, Icon, AeroTwin) seem to work better than the cheaper lines.

Trico made GM/ACDelco OEM wipers. Maybe stilk does. The Trico Exact Fit I'm currently using are the OEM wiper for my Buick Park Ave.

 

[Carlostrece]

FWIW, lately I've been using the Trico USA made blades and they're good and reasonably priced at the Rock. I also use Valeo. They used to make their wipers, power window motors, wiper motors, engine cooling fans and shrouds, etc. in Rochester (Lyell Ave. plant). I had a regular run that went there and it ended in 2004 when they sent their production to MX. Very sad day for those who worked there and for me but I think they still made their hydraulic fan motors there (for the Jeep Grand Cherokee).

Walmart currently has the USA made Trico Ultra on sale for $15. Reg $20. I don't know how $15 compares to Rock Auto price.

 

[nthach]

Trico made GM/ACDelco OEM wipers. Maybe stilk does. The Trico Exact Fit I'm currently using are the OEM wiper for my Buick Park Ave.

Trico also supplies many of the OEM service parts programs. Toyota is the only one I know that doesn’t use Trico for that - unless it’s “warranty” Denso(NWB), it’s made in China.

The wipers I’ve seen from a Subaru dealer were Trico. Ditto for Nissan.

 

[Silverado12]

I have Valeo Canopys on the parent’s RXh. They seem to work OK. Valeo is the OEM blade on that. I’ve also noticed Valeo is Toyota’s supplier for some models, while Denso(NWB) supplies the others. The Camry and a friend’s Tundra also use a Valeo-looking blade as OEM. Valeo bought out the SWF line from ITT Automotive when Conti took over the ATE brake business. They were a common wiper to see on German cars along with Bosch.

Bosch is also another OEM supplier, but for the aftermarket, the nicer lines(Focus, Icon, AeroTwin) seem to work better than the cheaper lines.

The Rochester location used to be AC Delco, then ITT Automotive and like you said Valeo after that in I think the late 1990s or maybe 2000. Valeo then went to MX. At one time Rochester employed 3,500 mostly union workers.

 

[97prizm]

It rains 5 to 6 months a year where I live. It you got that much rain you'd think about wipers a lot. People who get a lot of snow or ice also havd reasons to think about wipers a lot.


Yes a person can buy cheap blades and change them often. Buying better blades and changing them less often is another viable solution. Either approach works in some climates, but in some climates using better blades is the only good option.

This! In Colorado when it occasionally hits -14 you want a high quality wiper blade. Some of the cheaper blades can get snow and ice build up and stop wiping well.

 

[nthach]

The Rochester location used to be AC Delco, then ITT Automotive and like you said Valeo after that in I think the late 1990s or maybe 2000. Valeo then went to MX. At one time Rochester employed 3,500 mostly union workers.

All the Valeo-made Toyota wipers I’ve been refills from have been from Mexico. From a maquiladora on the San Diego/Tijuana border, or Nogales, El Paso/Ciudad Juarez or the “free trade zones” in deep Mexico around Ramos Azripe/Silao(GM), Hermosillo(Ford), Saltillo(Mopar), Puebla(VAG) or Aguascalientes/Guanajato(Nissan/Honda).

 

[f355spider]

I have Valeo Canopys on the parent’s RXh. They seem to work OK. Valeo is the OEM blade on that. I’ve also noticed Valeo is Toyota’s supplier for some models, while Denso(NWB) supplies the others. The Camry and a friend’s Tundra also use a Valeo-looking blade as OEM. Valeo bought out the SWF line from ITT Automotive when Conti took over the ATE brake business. They were a common wiper to see on German cars along with Bosch.

Bosch is also another OEM supplier, but for the aftermarket, the nicer lines(Focus, Icon, AeroTwin) seem to work better than the cheaper lines.

I've noticed the same about Valeo and Bosch. They oem their higher performing products to BMW and other car makers. Their over the counter stuff at mass merchants and auto parts stores are not the same. Unless you pick the premium products in their lines. I live in the rainy pacific NW and notice this. Bosch Icons are pretty close to what the BMW dealers sell and last three years. The lower line Bosch will barely last a year.

Toyota dealers sell two lines...their oem that come on the cars from the factory (Denso?), and a cheaper "value" line that is not near as good.