Rain-X wb's shot after 2 months winter
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Our local TSC has Unipoint blades usually on sale 50% off. I find they work as well as anything and cost less than @$4.00
I never had good luck with Rain-X brand blades. Seems like I always got bad chatter or streaking a couple months in that no amount of cleaning would correct. I haven't used them since at least '06.
I was using Bosch in the OE style, but those started becoming harder to find when the ugly "beam" blades came in vogue. Seems like a pointless way to charge a few dollars more per blade, and they would look totally out of place on my truck. On top of that, one of my last Bosch blades actually tore, the first time I have had that happen with any wiper blade.
Since then, nothing but Anco. Dirt cheap, good for at least a year, good performance in all situations.
I was using Bosch in the OE style, but those started becoming harder to find when the ugly "beam" blades came in vogue. Seems like a pointless way to charge a few dollars more per blade, and they would look totally out of place on my truck. On top of that, one of my last Bosch blades actually tore, the first time I have had that happen with any wiper blade.
Since then, nothing but Anco. Dirt cheap, good for at least a year, good performance in all situations.
wow! thought i was the only one. last year i used anco winter blades through a montreal winter..spraying and over icy windshield..always wiped beautifully. i got some rain x wipers...and when it went below -10 celsius passenger wiper freezes up and barely makes contact with the windshield...and also streaking.. worst wipers ever. i should of used the anco's another year, probably would of lasted me 2 montreal winters. going back to Anco's. price and quality is right!
Originally Posted By: default
PIAA silicone inserts are the only way to fly.
Explain further! I'd love to know more
PIAA silicone inserts are the only way to fly.
Explain further! I'd love to know more
Originally Posted By: cchase
I'd like to know the truth, but my suspicion is that most of the main brands of wipers are made by the same few companies. I can't imagine there are hundreds of wiper factories out there to match the hundreds of brands that are seemingly available.
They may be manufactured by a relatively small number of production outfits, but the design of the frames obviously vary quite a bit, and the composition of the rubber inserts varies quite a bit as well. It's natural and understandable that some brands will perform better than others, as the design is different, even though they may be made in the same facility as another brand.
The Michelin blades are made by Pylon. I'm sure Pylon makes blades for other brands as well.
I'd like to know the truth, but my suspicion is that most of the main brands of wipers are made by the same few companies. I can't imagine there are hundreds of wiper factories out there to match the hundreds of brands that are seemingly available.
They may be manufactured by a relatively small number of production outfits, but the design of the frames obviously vary quite a bit, and the composition of the rubber inserts varies quite a bit as well. It's natural and understandable that some brands will perform better than others, as the design is different, even though they may be made in the same facility as another brand.
The Michelin blades are made by Pylon. I'm sure Pylon makes blades for other brands as well.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: cchase
I'd like to know the truth, but my suspicion is that most of the main brands of wipers are made by the same few companies. I can't imagine there are hundreds of wiper factories out there to match the hundreds of brands that are seemingly available.
They may be manufactured by a relatively small number of production outfits, but the design of the frames obviously vary quite a bit, and the composition of the rubber inserts varies quite a bit as well. It's natural and understandable that some brands will perform better than others, as the design is different, even though they may be made in the same facility as another brand.
The Michelin blades are made by Pylon. I'm sure Pylon makes blades for other brands as well.
Probably true. In my experience frame design makes very little difference. And, brand by brand is a [censored] as to blade quality. Sometimes you get a good wiper, sometimes it only lasts a few months. I've used Michelin, Anco, Trico, Rain-X, Bosch, and probably a few others over the years and I can't say that one has held up or wiped any better than any other.
Originally Posted By: cchase
I'd like to know the truth, but my suspicion is that most of the main brands of wipers are made by the same few companies. I can't imagine there are hundreds of wiper factories out there to match the hundreds of brands that are seemingly available.
They may be manufactured by a relatively small number of production outfits, but the design of the frames obviously vary quite a bit, and the composition of the rubber inserts varies quite a bit as well. It's natural and understandable that some brands will perform better than others, as the design is different, even though they may be made in the same facility as another brand.
The Michelin blades are made by Pylon. I'm sure Pylon makes blades for other brands as well.
Probably true. In my experience frame design makes very little difference. And, brand by brand is a [censored] as to blade quality. Sometimes you get a good wiper, sometimes it only lasts a few months. I've used Michelin, Anco, Trico, Rain-X, Bosch, and probably a few others over the years and I can't say that one has held up or wiped any better than any other.
I generally use Anco, Trico, or Rain-X. Seem to have about equal performance between the them, but then ice isn't normally an issue for me- maybe once every 5 years. Anco and Trico have been OEM suppliers for longer than most of us have been alive (anyone over 90 on here?)
I recently bought a set of Rain-X Fusion blades, and the performance at highway speeds is extremely good. The problem is the little flip-up latch that locks the blade on the J-hook sometimes pops up at highway speed when the wipers are in use. They need to re-work that latch so it takes more force to pop it open. The Fusion is a great blade otherwise, but that's a pretty big knock against it in my book.
I recently bought a set of Rain-X Fusion blades, and the performance at highway speeds is extremely good. The problem is the little flip-up latch that locks the blade on the J-hook sometimes pops up at highway speed when the wipers are in use. They need to re-work that latch so it takes more force to pop it open. The Fusion is a great blade otherwise, but that's a pretty big knock against it in my book.
Maybe there is some luck of the draw involved. Last wiper blades I had that worked very well for at least a couple of years were Meijer branded, least expensive they sold. Mid January (less than 2 months ago) I finally replaced them with Trico Exact Fit blades. These Tricos streak like the rubber wasn't cut carefully. I would have returned them the same day, except that I installed them right before a winter road trip and thus used them for hours before I could go back to the store days later. So I still have them, and based on this experience, Trico might be the company who made those junky Rain-X blades that failed in two months.
Guess what? The other one (RainX) too torn apart when I went to clean it. I picked up new set (Michelin) from Walmart and they seem to be very good. After I installed them, I discovered a brand new Goodyear set sitting in my garage which I must have purchased from Costco while ago and had promptly forgotten :-( I had searched and searched for a new pair in my garage before but only after I bought another set and installed it only then they miraculously appeared right in front of my eyes. Literally, I installed the new Michelin on the Camry, tested them (was very impressed how nicely they wiped the windshield) and walked backed in the garage and there the Goodyear were neatly placed with a post it note on it saying the set was for the Camry!
I don't like Ancos...don't last in Texas heat, the Michelin's last about 4-6 months the Bosch and Trico Direct fits a little longer. Lately, I've gotten the same use out of the cheaper Duralasts (6-8 mos)..so I've been using them with pretty good results.
Originally Posted By: gman2304
What the other guys said about the Ancos. I just replaced mine...$10.00.
Count me in.
What the other guys said about the Ancos. I just replaced mine...$10.00.
Count me in.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: gman2304
What the other guys said about the Ancos. I just replaced mine...$10.00.
Count me in.
me too... except for the Accord-it gets OEM-why? I don't know, probably because I've done it since new-everyone else gets the Anco cheapies from WMT
Originally Posted By: gman2304
What the other guys said about the Ancos. I just replaced mine...$10.00.
Count me in.
me too... except for the Accord-it gets OEM-why? I don't know, probably because I've done it since new-everyone else gets the Anco cheapies from WMT
Bosch Icons and Rain-X Weatherbeaters seem to be the best for my car. I don't care for the Rain-X Latitude blades I have on it now. Major wind lift/streaking at any speed over 45mph. I used to like the generic Meijer branded blades they sold at Meijer, but they seem to be replaced by Tricos now.
Although, I love the new Beam Style Wiper Blades and especially the Rain-X Repel & Latitude . What I am finding is...
After about 2 years of use, the Rain-X Repel/Latitude's are tearing(coming apart), right at the wipers pivot point and causing them to need replacing.
Other than that, I still love'em!
And I now have quite a stash of them for $10ea from BIGLOT's. Ollie's just had them for $5ea but, they didn't last on the shelves for more than the day.
After about 2 years of use, the Rain-X Repel/Latitude's are tearing(coming apart), right at the wipers pivot point and causing them to need replacing.
Other than that, I still love'em!
And I now have quite a stash of them for $10ea from BIGLOT's. Ollie's just had them for $5ea but, they didn't last on the shelves for more than the day.
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Regular Michelins from Wally's. Reasonable price and work at least as well as the more expensive Bosch Micro-Edge blades I had been using. May try regular Ancos again next time.
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