Submitted by HumanTarget t3_120synn in BuyItForLife
When I was young wiper blades seemed to last for years now you don't even get a year out of them. :(
Submitted by HumanTarget t3_120synn in BuyItForLife
When I was young wiper blades seemed to last for years now you don't even get a year out of them. :(
I like Bosch Icon blades. They last 12-18 months in my climate (PNW USA).
You should check out PIAA silicone ones. I'm going on year 3 in Seattle with them.
Another vote for Bosch Icons. I think mine have been on for 4-5 years now and still working well. Starting to get a little streaky, but not worn out yet.
Yes they are pricey, but it's a good value.
Same on all my cars.
I think I'm getting closer to 30 months on a set of icons now actually in the PNW.
Bosch also. Best wiper blades
This is the way
I've never ordered from rock auto. Like, you only pay shipping on your first order and it's free fir each order after that?
Absolutely not lol.
What's he mean by you pay shipping once? Looks like they have great prices but shipping was $26 on wipers, an oil filter and an air filter.
I think he meant he orders both wipers at the same time so that he only has to pay shipping once. Rockauto makes you pay shipping everytime, nothing special.
I’ll probably explain this bad but here goes. Rock Auto doesn’t work like most online retailers and they will charge you shipping for every package in an order if they ship from different warehouses. So once you add an item to your cart you’ll notice letters next to other items as you shop, possibly an “A” at first. That means everything you see with an “A” will ship from the same warehouse. You want to try to purchase items that all ship from the same place or you will pay the full shipping price for each shipment. I’m assuming you didn’t because I’ve never paid them $26 in shipping even for brake rotors. But that’s where they shine is once you make one purchase you can find small items that are quite inexpensive and add them to your order and it doesn’t really add up to much more shipping cost. That’s what the other person meant by only paying shipping once. Hope that helped.
What really sucks is of you ever have to return said items, they all have to be sent back to each warehouse, A then B then C etc. So it really blows when you have to pay shipping to 2 different warehouses.
Aha! That makes more sense and that's a great tip. Yeah, it was shipping from three different warehouses so that explains the $26. Thanks for the explanation!
Seeing this...I just ordered some wipers and the site has been processing my order for 5 minutes...I guess Ill lose the order. Going to wallyworld.
I'll buy what ever he says is best
Wait you pay 4-5$ for Bosch fuck me that’s cheap, our cheap wipers aren’t even that low in eastern Canada. I just started buying them because I wanted quality products.
done drivers rain X and passenger Bosch the factory ones were better than rain x, Bosch looked and act premium
The first rain x I bought were faulty and the next pair were nothing special, they look so much cheaper
Bosch fan here. Buy em after each winter they rock
Why are they so cheap on rock auto?
Cause you pay for shipping and distribution. They probably just buy a bulk amount to one warehouse.
Thanks for giving me the heads up. I’ll start ordering wipers from them.
Seconding Bosch, mine last about a year and a half to two years at a time, at least for me
PIAA Silicone blades. They last much longer than any others I've ever used.
I started using these a year ago and they're still going strong.
Yes, and you can buy the replacement inserts which are cheaper than buying a whole new blade assembly. I just switched these to our cars and they are awesome
These are truly BIL. Have used these on three vehicles. Never had to change them again.
Best blades ever, the one with the paste you put on your windshield. Never going back.
I have PIAA on my daily driver for 5 years now and they still wipe very clean.
For the first year or two, the silicone made a Rain-X effect (water repels off the windshield). It does not do that anymore but they still wipe great.
This - plus the PIAA silicone prep pad
Which variation? The single beam or the classic models?
I've used both. Both work very well and last!
I can tell you that the RainX blades I got were garbage from the start and they're no better now.
I've had good luck with OEM blades and they're cheap. Gotta try the silicone ones people are mentioning in this thread.
Huh, my rainx ones are doing okay a year in. I might try the silicone ones recommended after these.
I had high hopes and they're well rated, I wonder if something's just different for me. I live in Western Washington, it's rare that we have heavy rain but we get tons of mist and light drizzle. The wipers just smear everything for me. Sometimes it seems like the windshield isn't wet enough.
I'm in the sierra, basically just snow / ice or high altitude sun. Have you tried that rainx treatment stuff? I used that in New England and it blew me away. Often didn't even need to use my wipers.
I do use their wiper fluid and it works pretty good, especially when it rains hard enough. But when the windshield is coated in fine mist, it beads up fine, but there's not enough volume of water for it to collect into bigger droplets and blow off.
I've also consistently had the best luck with OEM blades. My mechanic thinks I'm insane for insisting on Hyundai wipers, but they're the only ones that last for me.
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Seemed to and actually did last for years are two different things.
Wiper blades on average need replacing every 6 months, the materials in premium brands are better than the cheap stuff but they will still wear out, they'll just work better while they wear out vs. ripping or shredding that can occur with cheap blades.
Bosch and Michelin have quality blades.
A little more obscure than Bosch, but I've found them to be superior and last longer. PIAA Si-Tech. Lasts 5-7 years for me with no streaking.
This is the answer
100% this. I live in the PNW, it rains here all the time. They last years and never streak. Well worth the premium.
Silicone is the material. PIAA was the starter/most popular, SilBlade is a cheaper option. My PIAAs lasted me 10 years on first set. Got inserts and they are like 7ish years old now. Plus the silicone coats your windshield and give you a light RainXish coating. Procedure is alcohol clean the windshield, put the wipers on, turn on wipers dry for 4-10 minutes to bed in/coat the windshield, then you are good.
Get some that are made out of silicon don't cheap out I have found wiper blades are one of those few items that in general the more you spend the better off you are just make sure they are made out of silicon.
Also if you live in cold weather scrape your windshield dont just run the washer fluid like I typically do
Silicone not silicon. Big difference.
I will say it depends on where you live, I lived in the desert for three years, DESTROYED my wiper blades, had to replace them every few months, moved to a more humid climate, they last for over a year now
Yeah I've never noticed much difference in wiper blades here in AZ. Because they only last 6 months anyway
My Bosch are probably about 4 years old. Have not started to streak.
Where do you buy yours from?
Oreilys if I remember correctly.
Same here. I usually wait until they do a big rebate (like $10 gift cards or something) and then get them for all the cars.
Bosch Icon. Going on 5 yrs and just starting to streak a little. Truck outside 24/7 hot sun but only a few weeks of cold to a few days of freezing (South Texas).
Best I have used.
Bosch Icons. Check out the Project Farm video as he tested most big brands, and these won out over PIAAs.
Whatever you get if you clean the contact points when washing your car they will last longer
Second for PIAA, Japanese quality, made in Taiwan. Lasts a long time.
Bosch
No one going to mention project farm?
I’ve gone down this rabbit hole. Ended up going with PIAA since they were made from silicone which makes them super smooth, but also had the best durability/longevity. Haven’t bought a other blade since.
Michelin
I use them for tires, but Bosch gets my money for blades
Because ozone and UV attack rubber. All rubber is shorter lived now because more ozone in the air. Mechanics complain bitterly that rubber boots (like CV or steering) degrade in only a few years, where they used to last 20 years. It’s not necessarily because rubber is made worse.
You HAVE to replace them both at the same time. Michellin or Bosch seems to last me the longest; everything else, how long they last depends on whether or not cats like to chew on them or they dry-rot from a month of no rain.
I got some at Auto Zone that were about 12 dollars a piece and they are great.
Much much better than the ones I had from big box store.
I have had good experience with Michelin silicone from Walmart. PS: No matter the brand, don’t buy from Amazon. Lots of fakes. PPS: Wiper blades aren’t really BIFL
I have not had to buy some in a few years because I was without a car, but prior to that I had great experiences with the RainX wiper blades, and products in general.
I've got the rain x silicone blades. They have been great now for about 2 years. Crazy expensive though
Car crashes from poor visibility are even more expensive
A key to longer-lasting wipers is not to turn on the wipers when they or the windshield have ice or frost on them. It will rip off the fine fragile edge that is there to produce a clear, streak-free windshield. Turn the wipers on just ONE TIME when they and windshield are frozen, and they are ruined. If your car is in a garage or under a shed, wipers last longer. Sunlight deteriorates them. In sandy, dusty, gritty areas like deserts, the abrasive stuff wears them out fast. 60 years driving experience.
Silicone wiper blades negate all these problems. I’ve had a pair through three Flagstaff summers (high elevation, high UV) and two winters (150 inches of snow this season). I’ve parked in direct sun and ripped them off frozen windshields and they’re still like new.
Wow! I have not tried those, but I shall at the next replacement!!!
The downsides are the price, although their durability makes it worthwhile. Also, they’re stickier than rubber so most come with RainX type wipes to make the glass more slick. Just repeat treatment when you notice them sticking again (visible as skipping when they change direction).
Clean the blades regularly and keep them raised during ice storms. You should start getting 2-3 years out of the cheap ones at that point.
Mostly just putting this for anyone who can't afford better.
I’ve found that routine cleaning of both the windshield and the wiper blades extends their effectiveness. The Bosch have worked well for me, but I’ve not seen the PIAA.
It's worth trying out. I used to buy Bosch until I tried PIAA and never went back. Well worth the money.
No. No, they didn’t.
Tried RainX. They were ok but only lasted a year. I'm liking the Bosch icon blades I put on mine and my wife's cars
As always, check Project Farm first! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3S8udUSKtY
Rockauto.com taste the rainbow
NWB
PIAA
Genuine
Bosche
Get yourself some silicone wiper blade refill inserts on that one jungle site.
Silicone Wiper Blade 5 Pairs Windshield Wiper Blades Refills Rubber Strips Silicone Frameless Wipers Blade Refills 6mm Replacement Wiper Blade Refill
Because you didn’t have to buy them yourself 🤪
Bosch Icons
I usually tell my wife to get out and wipe my windshield at red lights. She’s 25 years old and going strong.
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A lot of the time, the blades don’t need to be replaced - just cleaned. Isopropyl alcohol on a microfibre and wipe the blades a few times.
I will say oem vw/Audi blades seem to last a long time, not sure who makes them
I got a good 2-3 years out of the Michelin blades from Costco, and live in the Pacific Northwest 🌧️
Maintenance question: I’m sure there are a lot of “it depends” but what is the average lifespan for blades you might get on a new car?
RainX or Bosch Icon
Not sure what I have on my Jaguar but after 3+ years or so they still work very well. Probably Bosch or something. I will probably replace them soon enough or at least if they rip or something. I need new washer jets really, there are some aftermarket ones that are a good improvement.
Buy the OEM ones.
Captain_Bignose t1_jdivr0l wrote
I use Bosch and buy them off Rockauto for both my cars once a year. Around $4-5 per wiper and you pay shipping once.