Are Winter Wipers Good?

[deb0704us]

I'm heading to the auto supply store today. My current set of wipers was purchased in April of this year at Pep Boys. I bought the expensive ones. Now I need new wipers because these streak water right across my viewing area of the windshield. I'm in the midwest, and winter is supposedly coming this week (snow! ugh!). I've seen "winter wipers" advertised. Do they work good? What is the difference? How long are wipers supposed to last?

[kustomkid54]

Snow blades are great for snow. It's the wet roads after the snow is cleared that I didn't like them for. I always ran reg. wipper blades all winter long. And besides they look like "old man" cars when you use them.
Do what I did, move to Florida. Wait, I think I will buy a set. I'll look like a snow bird.
If you clear your glass of snow and ice, you don't need them.

[dwalmop]

In my experience, I think they're worthless. Yeah, they are ok in the snow, but that's it. If you get moving too fast they dont' stay on the windshield.

[AKWE-gt]

i don't care for those winter blades especially those ones with the teflon, garbage! I recomend getting the washer fluid with the RainX in though. stuffs a life saver when conditions get bad.

[carnutcass]

I agree, it's the wiper fluid that really makes a difference. Prestone and RainX make winter fluid that melts light ice and snow.

Jim, if you get a set of those you won't look like a snow bird.......you'll blend in with all the other old farts in Florida.

[00BlackGTP]

The only difference between standard blades and "winter" blades is that winter blades have a rubber sheath that doesnt allow snow and ice to cake up inside the framework of the blade.
The blade itself is no different.
Save some money and just get regular blades and some of the aformentioned deicer washer solvent.

[richtazz]

if your wipers are 18" or longer they are useless. they catch air at highway speeds causing them to lift, and they can cause your wiper arms to break or strip out if you try to use them to clear snow deeper than an inch or so. Also, due to the stiffer frame, they may not follow the curvature of your windshield, causing the end of the wiper to not touch.

[GTP Dad]

I have used winter blades for years and found them to be of great value. Before they had the deicers for the washers they would keep the windshield clearer than standard blades because they don't freeze up. Of course the value of the blade is in the eyes of the beholder as I hate to have to stop to clean the ice buildup off the blades every 10 minutes in a snow storm. The blades are the same as standard blades but the covering is the part that makes them worth the money. Like Richtazz said the shorter the blade the better they work. I use them on my Escort and Jeep. They are not available for my GTP. If you live in snow country I think they are worth the extra money. To answer your question about how long they last I usually get one season out of a pair.

[kustomkid54]

Originally Posted by carnutcass

I agree, it's the wiper fluid that really makes a difference. Prestone and RainX make winter fluid that melts light ice and snow.

Jim, if you get a set of those you won't look like a snow bird.......you'll blend in with all the other old farts in Florida.

Now I have to be an "old fart"?

[carnutcass]

HAAAA.....I love that "Virtual Kick In The Ass."