Back in the day when both wipers were the same size, my Dad would put a new one on the driver's side every 6 months and move the drivers to passenger and toss the old passenger.
Windshield Wipers - What's the best strategy?
- Thread starter macarose
- Start date
It's a crap shoot. Beam style blades aren't necessarily the best for all vehicles. Let's take my 2020 F-150 as an example. It came with beam blades and they were horrible. I've tried Trico beams, Motorcraft beams, and now Michelin Silicone beams. None of them have been good. The NAPA Exact Fit conventional and Trico Exact Fit conventional perform much better than any beam style blade.
I'm going back to conventional blades.
It all depends on the windshield as to which blades work the best.
I'm going back to conventional blades.
It all depends on the windshield as to which blades work the best.
Sold and installed thousands of them when I was working at Advance Auto. I grew to like certain ones and hate others.
Also call me crazy but I hate wipers that stick up too high, or look too bulky or like they aren’t meant to be there. Rain-X is the worst offender here. Their wipers always look cartoonish and out of place to me.
Also Rain-X are a PITA to install on anything that isn’t a J-Hook.
I generally prefer OEM if possible but if you are going aftermarket, Bosch was always my recommendation for longevity and appearance.
And I usually prefer the beam style, but with some cars, like my ‘97 Accord for example, they won’t conform to the windshield properly, so conventional or hybrid wipers are needed.
Also call me crazy but I hate wipers that stick up too high, or look too bulky or like they aren’t meant to be there. Rain-X is the worst offender here. Their wipers always look cartoonish and out of place to me.
Also Rain-X are a PITA to install on anything that isn’t a J-Hook.
I generally prefer OEM if possible but if you are going aftermarket, Bosch was always my recommendation for longevity and appearance.
And I usually prefer the beam style, but with some cars, like my ‘97 Accord for example, they won’t conform to the windshield properly, so conventional or hybrid wipers are needed.
I think that conventional wiper blades work best on windshields that have less curvature. That is the case with my F-150.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2024
- Messages
- 120
I have never seen a difference with a premium wiper blade. They don’t last any longer. I buy the cheap Walmart blades and they seem to be the best for me.
My cars are all parked outside so the blades take a beating from the sun & snow. I've experimented with a bunch of blades and found cheapie ones start chattering in like 3-4 months whereas more premium hybrid / beam offerings from Denso, Rainx & Trico last 1+ yrs.
I've had good luck with Bosch and rain X ones. I get at least 5 years out of them before the streak/rip. For the BMW and for the rear ones, OEM seems to fit the best.
I just stopped by Auto Zone. I picked up a pair of Bosch Micro Edge conventional blades. They will be replacing the Michelin Silicone beam blades.
The spring metal of the beam blades cause spots to be missed on my F-150 windshield.
The spring metal of the beam blades cause spots to be missed on my F-150 windshield.
Toyota inserts = cheap and last a couple years for me. Aftermarket on my wife's car make more sense because the cost from the Subaru dealer for hers is multiple of the price when they're on sale at Costco. So she gets a set each fall when Costco has their sale.
5 years?!? Do you live somewhere that you rarely use them?
western Wisconsin lol. No idea, they just always work pretty good for me until they rip, which usually at the 4-5 year mark. The ones on my Wrangler are 4 years old and fine, the ones on the LR3 are 3 years old and fine, the X3 ones I replaced last summer the factory ones so those were 5 years old, the Liberty ones are like 5-6 years old and fine.
