How To Choose The Best Wiper Blade Type For My Car

Finding the best wiper blades for a car is a lot easier when you know what car you're looking for. Unlike other products, which have a one size fits all marketing approach, specific wiper blades are compatible with only certain cars. While this may be frustrating to the consumer, it is a great thing. When you shop for blades, you should focus on the make and model of your car so you can find the best ones on the market today. In this article, we'll discuss how to choose the right wiper blade types.

Read Your Car Manual

The first step in choosing the best replacement wiper blade for your car is to read your car's owner's manual. By noting the type of wiper blade system used on your vehicle, you'll be able to purchase the correct replacement blades when needed. This will save you money and prevent unnecessary damage to the lights on your car, which could result in a dangerous driving situation if visibility becomes compromised.

Consider Wiper Materials

When choosing a wiper blade for your car, you first need to consider the type of material it is made from. The material that a wiper blade is made from will determine how long it will last, how well it will perform in adverse weather conditions, and how much pressure it can withstand. Here are some of the most common materials used in wiper blades:

• Hydrophobic rubber: One of the most common materials used in windshield wipers. It is great at repelling water and keeping your windshield clear on rainy days but not so great at resisting ice or snow.
• Woven fabric: This material works well in all weather conditions since it is not affected by rain, sleet, or snow. It also lasts the longest out of any other material. However, it is prone to tearing and damage from gravel or rocks hitting the windshield.
• Fiberglass: This material has many qualities as the woven fabric but is lighter in weight and does not tear as easily under pressure. However, it does not do well at repelling water due to its porous nature.
• Polyvinyl chloride: This material is also widely used in windshield wipers because it's much less expensive than many other options. The biggest drawback is that it becomes brittle in cold temperatures, meaning they may not work well in winter weather conditions.
• Polytetrafluoroethylene: Another polymer option has great durability and tends to last longer than other types of wipers. It's also resistant to oils and chemicals found on roads and windshields, making it very easy to clean without damaging the material.

Choosing the Right Wiper Size

Before purchasing any wiper blades, you'll have to determine what size your car's windshield is. This determination will make it easier for you to choose the right type of wiper and wiper blade fit.

Wiper blades are typically measured by length in inches or millimeters, but their size can also be described by the number of inches or millimeters they cover on the windshield. The general rule is that smaller blades cover a shorter distance than larger models. For example, an 18-inch-long model might cover 14 inches on a small vehicle's windshield, while a 24-inch-long model covers 18 inches on a large vehicle's windshield. The right wiper size will help ensure that your wipers clear off all ice, snow, and other debris from your windshield so you can enjoy driving safely at all times.

Deciding on a Wiper Mounting Method

To choose the best wiper blade type for your car, you'll first want to decide on a mounting method. There are two main types of wiper blade fittings:

• Standard arm type: The standard arm type of wiper blade fitting is the kind that most cars were designed within the mind. It's a pretty standard size, and it does its job well. But if you're looking for something that you can easily switch out for different kinds of weather or seasons-a clear-weather blade or a winter blade, for example-you might want to get a different type of mounting system.
• Flat blade type: The flat blade type of wiper mounting system is what you should choose if you need something more versatile than the standard arm type. With this kind of mounting system, you can easily swap out your blades depending on what weather or season you're driving in.

Decide Whether You Need Winter or Year-Round Wipers

Figure out whether you need winter or year-round wipers for your car. Winter wipers are specially designed for harsh weather conditions, like snow and ice. They will typically be thicker rubber that can withstand the subfreezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls of extreme winter weather. These blades also usually have a coating that prevents ice buildup and keeps them from freezing in cold temperatures.

Year-round wipers are designed to work in all types of weather, including those with strong winds and icy conditions. They will be made of a thinner rubber than their winter counterparts to operate more smoothly in the summer heat, but they still have a thick enough material to handle winter weather conditions safely. They will usually have a protective coating to prevent ice buildup in inclement weather like winter wipers.

Types of Wiper Blades

The most important thing to consider when choosing your wipers is what type of wiper blade you need. Here are the two main styles of wiper blades.

• Conventional wiper blades: Conventional blades have a straight, flat arm that attaches to the wiper arm on the driver's side of your vehicle. The blade's rubber part is flat and straight, which allows it to clean in a single pass. Conventional blades are best for windshields that are mostly flat or curvy (like a Coke bottle). These blades are meant for cars with curved windshields like those on a Coke bottle.
• Beam wiper blades: Beam blades have arms that curve towards your windshield. The rubber part of the blade curves as well, so it can clean in multiple passes. This is great for cleaning off snow and any other debris that sticks to your windshield in clumps. Because they clean in multiple passes, beam wipers are ideal for vehicles with big windshields or snow-covered ones.

Wrapping Up

No matter what type of car you drive, you have to have working windshield wipers. Wiper blades are the single most important part of your windshield wiper system, and they should be in good condition at all times during cold and wet conditions. In this article, we discussed how to choose the right wiper blade for your car.  Check our online store for all you aftermarket parts and if you are in South Florida you can even pick up your order at our warehouse.