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Windshield Wipers for Winter?

Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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The Keebler Factory
I need to replace my windshield wipers and I'm looking for feedback on the variety of wipers out there.

Specifically, has anyone tried those flexblade wipers that are curved to maintain continuous pressure against the windshield? Are they good for winter driving?

Thoughts?
 
I think I've tried them all and they are all shit, especially in the winter.

The winter ones with the rubber condom around them are only slightly better, ice still gets frozen around them and they look like shit if your wipers don't tuck under the hood. Though once they are cleaned off, if you get into the really slushy snow falls, they do do a better job as the blades don't get all jammed up with slushy snow.
 
Keebler Elf said:
I need to replace my windshield wipers and I'm looking for feedback on the variety of wipers out there.

Specifically, has anyone tried those flexblade wipers that are curved to maintain continuous pressure against the windshield? Are they good for winter driving?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I've used the "REFLEX" blades work just fine in winter time, used them from the last 2 years and they are just great.
 
I don't go for any of the fancy schmancy ones, just the good old rubber coated ones (the ones that have a thin rubber aka condom over the blade mechanism).....never had a problem.

If you have a problem with the blades lifting when it's really windy there are low rise "wings" that clip onto the wiper arm that maintain constant pressure.

Or you can pick up some orange neon wiper wings lol
 
you know, the wipers that they used to use on the '70s vehicles had nothing wrong with them... they worked great and lasted a long time.

why did they go and fuck up the designs? they were simple... a really strong motor and a strong springs and a simple rubber squeegee...
 
I'm beginning to think that you have to change your wipers at intervals of one year. The ones they make now seem to be only good for one season of winter, and one season of summer driving.

And the worst thing that can reduce wiper life is for them to get frozen to the windshield and have to be forcibly pulled free. They never seem to clean as well after that.

I once put on brand new winter wipers (the rubber covered type). I had them on for 1 week. I parked in a municipal lot for the day, and when I returned, they were gone, and someone had replaced them with an old ratty summer pair. Of course...it could have been worse...the pricks could have left me with no wipers at all.
 
LOL that's funny dude.....but ahem, yeah, one should replace their wipers at least every year...hell, you have a soft pliable material being rubbed over a surface probably 1000 times a year......it's only natural that it will deteriorate....
 
I have had a set of those Reflex blades from Crappy Tire for about 18 months on my Sierra. They are OK I suppose. In the CT commercials when they first came out, that bearded know it all dick ( I hated him ) would tout that they wouldn't fuck up in winter when snow and ice builds on them unlike conventional blades.

I found that not to be the case, they did.

It's time to replace them, they still wipe good but are getting a bit noisy due to the rubber blade hardening.

I bought a set of those Michelin (same hinge free style) blades at Costco for my car and found them to leave water streaks in spots, due to uneven pressure I guess. They went back.

I have come to think the best replacement blades are OEM from the dealer.
 
Try the NEOFORM Blade from Trico
 
I've used the Reflex ones since they came out on both my Ford Focus and F-150 with excellent results year-round. I change them once a year about October (so I get the best part of them during the crappy season). I'm trying the new Reflex Wiper Blades with WetTec (they were the same price as the regular ones so I figured I'd TOFTT :) ) this year.

I have other friends who have not had good results with the reg. Reflex (different car models)

So you may have to try a few different ones to see what works best for you.
 
If you get home delivery of the Toronto Star, take the plastic sleeve it comes wrapped in on rainy days and then put them on your blades. Keeps them nice and dry.

The Cunning Linguist said:
And the worst thing that can reduce wiper life is for them to get frozen to the windshield and have to be forcibly pulled free. They never seem to clean as well after that.
Click to expand...
 
21pro said:
you know, the wipers that they used to use on the '70s vehicles had nothing wrong with them... they worked great and lasted a long time....
Click to expand...
Ah, but not enough repeat sales for the parts suppliers....

dajodo2 said:
I bought a set of those Michelin blades at Costco for my car and found them to leave water streaks in spots, due to uneven pressure I guess. They went back...
Click to expand...
Never tried them but I'm not surprised - there must be a reason why squeegies have a thin blade instead of a flat surface after all. Plus keeping in mind that everything goes through contraction and expansion cylces with temperature changes, more surface area also means more potential wear & warping points.
 
The Cunning Linguist said:
And the worst thing that can reduce wiper life is for them to get frozen to the windshield and have to be forcibly pulled free. They never seem to clean as well after that.....
Click to expand...
The best way to avoid that damage is to never forcibly free the wipers. You should always wait until a film of water separates the ice from the windhield and then clean the slightly softened ice from the wipers.

Since you should NEVER drive a car that's been left out in the winter until it has run enogh for the defroster to blow hot, the ice on the windshield will begin to separate after a 2-3 minutes of the internal temperature changing inside the car. Then the ice on the glass surfaces and wipers will require much less effort to scrape off.
 
Whatever wipers you do use, they will be considerably more effective in all types of percipitation when you buff your exterior glass with Rain Vision every 4-6 weeks. One of the best $1.58 a month investments out there.

In the winter, the water repelling properties make the glass "slippery" to snow preventing it from adhearing - especially when the car is moving, the airflow makes water & snow run upwards and then away from the centre in a radial pattern until it falls off the corners of the windshield.

It also makes it difficult for ice to bond to glass. Not enough to prevent freezing rain from coating your glass surfaces, but it will be much easier to clean off, and once the ice begins to "sweat" even a little bit from the interrior warming up, it will separate effortlessly.
 
Keebler Elf said:
Where do you buy Rain Vision?
Click to expand...
At most gas stations where the shelf with the auto supplies is. They're hanging around products like RainX, NeverFog and the single package ArmourAll towellets.

I have a small coupe so one towell is enough for the whole car, including headlight lenses. If you have large sedan or SUV, you migh need 2 or 3 if you want to do all the windows & rear windshiled, but one will be enough for just the windshiled and front windows.

Actually I mostly go to Sunoco and buy them there I haven't really checked at other stations for a while.
 
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