Everyone gets caught like a cat within the rain sometimes. It is very important be able to see when you are in a car during those times. Your wiper blades have to be able to get the water wiped away effectively. Streaking and smearing should be minimal. Price does not affect wiper blades, reports Consumer Reports.
Wiper blades then and now
Once upon a time, windshield wiper blades were operated manually via a lever inside the auto. Now cars have electronic wiper systems that are designed to work continually with the flick or a switch. If your wiper blades are good and your automatic system works, then there could be no dirt left on your windshield. Add heated wiper blades that plug into a car’s 12-volt electrical system like Everblades and even ice and snow are melted away. Valeo 600 series, Anco 31 series and Michelin RainForce are one of the most effective, but cheaper, when tested by Consumer Reports on 185 cars.
Even costly wiper blades wear down in six to nine months
Wiper blades after a half year or more, except the RainX Latitude brand, were reported by Consumer Reports to be not nearly as effective. You will find numerous areas on a windshield that get missed after long periods of time. Consumer Reports also discovered in a 185-car sample that many had been using wipers that had degraded beyond recommended safe use. The owner’s simply hadn’t noticed; more likely, they’d become accustomed to poor driving visibility.
Good wipers are recommended
Cars typically have a hook in them making it easy to buy and replace wiper blades that aren’t good anymore. New blades are easy to put into place. You are paying too much if your wipers take too much effort to put in.
Check the owner’s manual
It is always a good idea to “Check the owner’s manual.” You are able to get the info online or check with your auto for it. The information you need about proper maintenance of your vehicle is contained within. You can replace them every six to twelve months. If you’re worried about getting the right wiper blade size, just bring it to the store to compare.
Additional reading
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/auto-parts/windshield-wipers/overview/windshield-wipers-ov.htm
Everblades
everblades.com/
How Stuff Works
howstuffworks.com/wiper.htm
YouTube
How to change your windshield wiper blades
youtube.com/watch?v=cJN7NqkUd1k
