It’s a part of your car that you probably overlook, but couldn’t do without. Here are some of the best windscreen wiper blades on sale today.
Windscreen wiper blades are fairly simple tools, yet – like anything – each individual design has its own strengths and weaknesses. Not only that, but well-used wiper blades will smear rain/snow across the screen, rather than keeping them clean. Replacing old wiper blades should be part of your routine car maintenance.
So, if you’re looking for the best windscreen wipers to get for your daily driver or modified car, look no further! I’ve been maintaining cars for years, and during that time have learned which brands you can trust, and which you’d be better off avoiding. Here are several of the strongest contenders, with each of their merits and drawbacks laid out. Let’s get into it!
Best Windscreen Wiper Blades
Bosch Aerotwin
RRP: $30.28, buy now. £28.27, buy now.
Bosch’s reputation for high-quality OEM-grade products spans across the globe, so why wouldn’t you trust them to provide your windscreen wiper blades? The Bosch Aerotwin’s price point is certainly towards the top end of what you should pay for a set, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Installation is super simple (so long as you purchase the correct vehicle-specific design), thanks to Bosch’s quick-clip adapter. Then, once they’re in use, the results will be worth every cent you spent. These flagship wiper blades have a graphite coating for smoother, quieter wiping. Plus, the internal metal supporting strip works brilliantly in tandem with the blades’ flexible spines to ensure consistent contact without the blades becoming too harsh. We’ve heard of these blades lasting for multiple years too, so durability is another strength.
Valeo Silencio
RRP: $40.77, buy now. £39.99, buy now.
It may sound like some sort of fruity yogurt company, but the Valeo brand is actually a major player in the worldwide automotive parts industry.
Once again, these are premium OEM-grade wiper blades. In fact, it’s likely that if you own a European car, you might already have been using Valeo Silencio blades without even realizing – these are the blades which many vehicles roll off the production line with. Valeo claims that they produce blades for as much as 98% of European car model range, so whether you’ve got a Beamer, a Benz, or anything in between, Valeo will probably have the perfect blade for you.
Michelin Stealth Hybrid
RRP: $14.60, buy now. £9.96, buy now. (price per blade)
A slightly more traditional design, the Michelin Stealth Hybrid windscreen wiper blades have quite a serious metal skeleton inside, and as such are comparatively chunkier and heftier when put up against many of their rivals.
However, in practice, this different approach still provides commendable results, offering wiping quality just below that of the Bosch and Valeo. As for the noise these wipers produce, vibration and scraping is minimal, on par with the other two aforementioned brands. Installation is nice and straightforward as well, thanks to Michelin’s EZ Lok system. On top of that, these blades tend to be marginally kinder to your wallet, so if you’re looking for value for money, the Michelin Stealth Hybrid is a decent shout.
Rain-X Latitude Water Repellency
RRP: $29.99, buy now. £24.61, buy now. (price per blade)
These Rain-X windscreen wiper blades are very impressive in practice. As their full name suggests, the Latitude Water Repellency blades have a hydrophobic coating which really does do a good job of not only wiping water away, but also making the water wipe *itself* away. So, if you’re a fan of those video reels that show water beading up and trickling off cars – these are definitely the wipers for you.
Some users have found installation to be a bit on the trickier side thanks to clips that aren’t always willing to comply. However, that’s a fairly small price to pay for a product with a far-from outlandish price tag and impressive performance credentials.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
RRP: $12.00, buy now. £18.73, buy now. (price per blade)
If, when changing blades in the past, you’ve found that your specific car has a quirky wiper setup, the Goodyear Assurance package might be a one of the safest bets. There’s no universal standard for car wiper arm design, so if you’re unlucky enough to have a slightly less common one, you’ll be relieved to find that Goodyear includes a strong variety of fitting adapters.
Once you’ve got them onto your car, you’ll find that these blades perform perfectly adequately. They don’t necessarily excel in any given area, but they do thy job. And hey, who said windscreen wiper blades needed to be exciting? If you jut want something that’ll clean your windshield without blowing your mind – or your bank balance – then these are a good option.
How to buy the best wiper blades
If you’re thinking that any old windscreen wiper will do the job, you’d be wrong. There are noticeable performance differences in how much clarity a premium wiper can offer, compared to one you found in the bargain bin.
What you’re looking for is windscreen wiper which is strong enough to take the brunt of the elements and the forces of its job, but still flexible enough so that it doesn’t make too much noise when operating. Even better, some wiper blades are coated in finishes which help them to glide silently over the glass. Other available finishes have a hydrophobic quality, which aids the process of repelling water away from your windscreen.
Finally, get something with clips or adapters that are easy to use. Wiper blade installation isn’t the hardest job in the world, but it can be an annoying one if you’re faced with a stubborn application process.
How we picked the products
We haven’t had the chance to test each of these exact products first-hand, but we do have decades of experience in the automotive market. As such, each of the options listed here are products that we would happily fit to our own cars, based on our own expertise.
Want to get your windscreen looking its best? Check out our rundown of the top car glass cleaners and windscreen washer fluid available right now!
The post Best Windscreen Wiper Blades appeared first on Fast Car.