Are Expensive Wiper Blades Better?

  1. Research Center
    2. /
  2. Car Maintenance Articles
    3. /
  3. Are Expensive Wiper Blades Better?

The short answer is YES!

There are multiple reasons why more expensive wiper blades are better. For one thing, they will end up costing you less money in the long run and will function better when you need them.
 
You may have had the unwelcome experience of driving in extreme rain only to discover that your old windshield wiper blades are too worn to work properly. Older blades begin streaking, skipping, and making noise. If you can't see the road and the car in front of you in a rainstorm with the wipers on, it is time for a new pair.
 
Even the most expensive wiper blades are not that expensive, especially when you consider that properly functioning blades can save your life and the lives of your family. To understand why more expensive blades are better, let's take a look at conventional versus beam wiper blades, and also check out the difference between rubber, silicone, and ceramic blades.

Conventional and Beam Blades

Older cars used to come with thin rubber wiper blades that were held in place by a spring-loaded metal frame. These conventional blades are much straighter than today's beam blades and don't hug the windshield as well. As the rubber blades age and wear out, they can break and then you have small metal teeth scratching across your windshield when the blade is in use. This can quickly etch grooves in the glass and replacing a windshield is very expensive.
 
Because of the way they are designed, conventional blades only make contact with the windshield at six to eight contact points. There needed to be a better way and in the early 2000s, beam-style blades appeared on luxury cars and soon made their way to most vehicles on the market today. Beam blades are not attached to a metal framework and are much more flexible, hugging your windshield for much better coverage.
Whether you are driving in high wind, rain, or snow, beam blades spread their useful contact patch over the entire width of the blade. While high speed winds can lift conventional blades away from the windshield, beam blades stay in firm contact.

Beam Blades are Better

While beam blades are more expensive than traditional frame wipers, they offer a superior design and also utilize high-strength steel married to high-quality rubber. Because of this, beam blades last longer and work better. Also, unlike conventional frame-style blades, beam blades have no exposed parts that collect ice and snow during harsh winters.
 
Premium beam blades are available that are made from silicone instead of rubber and they last twice as long. Some even use a ceramic coating for three times the life of conventional blades. But no matter what they are made of, wiper blades can be destroyed by harsh winter conditions when scraping ice from windshields. For this reason alone, you should replace your wiper blades every year.
Selecting the right Blade
Another thing to keep in mind is how the blade attaches to the wiper blade arm. Most cars today have a J-Hook and the wiper blade snaps onto it. Regardless of the make and model of vehicle you own, wiper blades come with adaptors so that the blade can be attached to the arm. Find the correct wiper blades by looking them up in your Owner's Manual. Wipers come in many different lengths to properly fit windshields. Even if your car originally came with frame-style wipers, you can often replace them with better beam-style blades.

When it comes to cost, well-known brands such as Bosch or Rain-X are more expensive than generic brands. When looking at the price difference, OEM style frame wipers can be purchased for as little as $15 for a pair while a set of Rain-X beam blades start at $30. Rain-X claims its blades use a formula that repels water and that its silicone rubber blades last twice as long as traditional blades. Two top of the line Bosch Icon beam wipers can cost over $50, and a pair of Trico ceramic blades can run you $65.

When you consider that your windshield wiper blades will last at least a year, even the cost of the most expensive wiper blades are well worth the extra money… especially when your life depends on them working properly. If you live in an area where harsh winters are a fact of life, it is best to spend the money on better blades. Cleaning your blades frequently with a wet cloth to remove grime will help them function more effectively and last longer.

Let Lithia Help
No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, the factory-trained service technicians at your local Lithia Motors dealer service center can swap out your used wiper blades for new ones in just a few minutes. We'll check your wiper blades every time you come in for an oil change as part of our multi-point vehicle inspection and make sure your wipers work properly when you need them most. Your safety is important to us, because we want to keep you as a customer for life!