How to Choose the Right Windscreen Wiper for Your Car

Simple, yet effective car parts do wonders in keeping drivers and passengers comfortable, safe and worry-free. Take the case for wipers. They’re an indispensable part of any passenger vehicle, yet some of the least understood. Their main goal is to improve visibility by removing pooling water, dust, road debris and other nasties that vie for attention. Suppose your wipers are nearing their replacement date with visible signs of wear, or are not up to the task. In that case, aftermarket variants offer improved wiping efficiency, better designs and materials, and acceptable prices for all motorists.

Wiper Blade Basics

Wiper designs haven’t changed much through the years. The main components include windscreen wiper arms that attach the parts to the cars and the wiper motors; connectors that attach blades to the arms; spring flexors to ensure proper wiping action with balanced pressure, and rubber or silicone elements (essentially the blades), treated with coatings for improved wiping efficiency. The parts can also have integrated spoilers, specifically on the driver’s side to prevent lift and improve aerodynamics. Blades endure the most wear and are subjected to heat, UV rays and the elements, causing them to degrade. You’ll notice this by reduced visibility, especially in the wet. While the whole assembly is durable, changing wipers or blades should be done every six months to ensure they’re up to maximising visibility through the windscreen and rear window.

Main Types

The parts come in several basic types. Conventional (or standard) wipers are fitted to older cars, resemble coat hangers and attach to the car via a hook-shaped wiper arm with 4 to 8 pressure points allowing for moderate wiping action. The wipers come in sizes ranging from 25 to 80cm, with the driver’s side usually longer. While still in use on older vehicles, you can upgrade to more efficient, cheaper and simpler designs.

Flat wipers are the standard on newer cars. They forego the metal (or plastic) hanger arm, instead using tensioned metal flexors running the whole length of the blade. The benefit is constant pressure across the whole blade, a more streamlined design (reducing wind noise) and with a smaller footprint, a better view out of the windscreen.

Some vehicles use hybrid designs. These combine low-profile flat wipers with spoiler and arms designs in standard types. The benefits are the improved pressure, with the blade constantly on the windscreen, and less lift, especially at higher speeds.

Signs Your Wipers Need Changing

Obvious signs (on the windscreen) will tell you when the windscreen wiper needs replacing. Some of the most common include:

• Damaged blades – rubber or silicone that is cracked, damaged or missing, and has a rounded edge means the wipers are up for replacement.
• Streaks or film – these are the telltale signs on the windscreen that the wipers are underperforming, This is caused by dried or cracked rubber and the blades losing contact with the glass.
• Chattering sounds – skipping blades, or those that drag along the windscreen create an irritating chatter. You already have worn wipers and now risk scratches or damaging the windshield.
• Vibrations – damaged blades or broken wiper arms are the main reason behind vibrations, especially in heavier rain. If noises, skipping and juddering continue, you’ll know what to do.

Do Blade Materials Matter?

Materials matter in any part, from car seat covers to engine components and wiper blades. Here, synthetic or natural rubber does a decent job of removing water, snow, dirt, mud, birdlime, bug spatter, tar, and road debris. The material is durable, lasting in both dry and wet conditions and performs well in direct sunlight. The only problem is that they’ve been bettered by silicone blades in almost every aspect.

Go for silicone wipers if you’re after ultimate UV- and heat-resistance, wipers that perform in climates with large temperature swings, and those that can handle snow, heavy downpours, light rain, or dusty conditions equally well. These should also keep shape longer with lower wear, and offer better windscreen cleaning visibility for a safer ride. Newer hydrophobic variants have special coatings that clear more water with each swipe.

Wipers Compatible With Your Car

Size is the main consideration when choosing wipers compatible with your vehicle. This takes into account overall windscreen width and height, and differences in driver and passenger side variants. Going with wipers that are too long can affect how blades sit on the windscreen, wiper speeds, and contact with windscreen trim. They can also damage motors, with the extra weight. The same applies to undersized blades, with visibility as the main issue. Check your owner’s manual for recommended sizes, or consult retailers or dealerships on what size is best for your car.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

Installing new wipers is fairly simple. First, place towels or cardboard under the arms and lift the arms perpendicular to the windshield unit they’re facing upwards. Locate the arm connection tabs, press and slide the brackets and blades out. With the old wiper out, snap the new one in place, and lower the wiper. Repeat the process with the remaining wiper.

Periodic checks for cracks, arm or bracket damage or blade hardness can save you time and the hassle of unsightly catches on the windscreen glass. To clean dirty wipers, use a microfibre cloth doused in car glass cleaner with a quick swipe to the blades.