Wiper Blades: Best ?

Hello,

Is there a consensus here among all the experts re which Brand, and Type, of
wipers is the best ?
Live in New England; lots of snow and ice.

BTW: are the relatively new types without all the hinges (forget what they
are called) better than the old
style ? How about compared to the "winter blades" with the rubber boot over
them ?

What does GM use as OEM blades these days on Chevy and Buick ?

Thanks.

Robert11 wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Is there a consensus here among all the experts re which Brand, and Type, of
> wipers is the best ?
> Live in New England; lots of snow and ice.

My favorite that I've tried is the PIAA silicone, although my criteria
may be different then yours. I live outside of DC and the usual failure
mode of wiper blades around here is that the wiping edge will become
hard, stop flipping over, and eventually disintegrate. usually at
~6mos. or so. I've actually worn a set of PIAAs out on my company car;
the edge was noticeably worn from rubbing on the windshield but the
blade was still as supple as if it were new. Pretty impressive. I've
had a set on my rarely-used Porsche for almost 2 yrs. now and they're
still good as new.

> BTW: are the relatively new types without all the hinges (forget what they
> are called) better than the old
> style ?

Not sure.

> How about compared to the "winter blades" with the rubber boot over
> them ?

I find them somewhat gimmicky; I usually remove the wiper blades and
hose 'em down with silicone spray in the fall (same time that I wipe the
door seals down with silicone) however based on my experiences in the
UP, they might provide some benefit in an area where it snows every
damned day.

> What does GM use as OEM blades these days on Chevy and Buick ?
>

I don't know but I was singularly unimpressed with the ones supplied on
my Impala, they were already hard at 6 mos. just like I would expect
from Anco, Trico, Bosch, etc.

nate


--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:47:57 -0500, Nate Nagel wrote:

> Robert11 wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Is there a consensus here among all the experts re which Brand, and Type, of
>> wipers is the best ?
>> Live in New England; lots of snow and ice.
>
> My favorite that I've tried is the PIAA silicone, although my criteria
> may be different then yours. I live outside of DC and the usual failure
> mode of wiper blades around here is that the wiping edge will become
> hard, stop flipping over, and eventually disintegrate. usually at
> ~6mos. or so. I've actually worn a set of PIAAs out on my company car;
> the edge was noticeably worn from rubbing on the windshield but the
> blade was still as supple as if it were new. Pretty impressive. I've
> had a set on my rarely-used Porsche for almost 2 yrs. now and they're
> still good as new.
>
>> BTW: are the relatively new types without all the hinges (forget what they
>> are called) better than the old
>> style ?
>
> Not sure.
>
>> How about compared to the "winter blades" with the rubber boot over
>> them ?
>
> I find them somewhat gimmicky; I usually remove the wiper blades and
> hose 'em down with silicone spray in the fall (same time that I wipe the
> door seals down with silicone) however based on my experiences in the
> UP, they might provide some benefit in an area where it snows every
> damned day.


But the 'prophylactic' keeps the ice from building up and lifting the
wiper from the glass.

I never thought much of them until Autozone had them for half price *AND*
buy one-get one!

>
>> What does GM use as OEM blades these days on Chevy and Buick ?
>>
>
> I don't know but I was singularly unimpressed with the ones supplied on
> my Impala, they were already hard at 6 mos. just like I would expect
> from Anco, Trico, Bosch, etc.
>
> nate

"Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
...
> Robert11 wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Is there a consensus here among all the experts re which Brand, and Type,
>> of wipers is the best ?
>> Live in New England; lots of snow and ice.
>
> My favorite that I've tried is the PIAA silicone, although my criteria may
> be different then yours. I live outside of DC and the usual failure mode
> of wiper blades around here is that the wiping edge will become hard, stop
> flipping over, and eventually disintegrate. usually at ~6mos. or so.
> I've actually worn a set of PIAAs out on my company car; the edge was
> noticeably worn from rubbing on the windshield but the blade was still as
> supple as if it were new. Pretty impressive. I've had a set on my
> rarely-used Porsche for almost 2 yrs. now and they're still good as new.
>
>> BTW: are the relatively new types without all the hinges (forget what
>> they are called) better than the old
>> style ?
>
> Not sure.
>
>> How about compared to the "winter blades" with the rubber boot over them
>> ?
>
> I find them somewhat gimmicky; I usually remove the wiper blades and hose
> 'em down with silicone spray in the fall (same time that I wipe the door
> seals down with silicone) however based on my experiences in the UP, they
> might provide some benefit in an area where it snows every damned day.
>
>> What does GM use as OEM blades these days on Chevy and Buick ?
>>
>
> I don't know but I was singularly unimpressed with the ones supplied on my
> Impala, they were already hard at 6 mos. just like I would expect from
> Anco, Trico, Bosch, etc.
>
> nate
>
>
> --
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Nate... I found that wiping the rubber with lacquer thinner cleans off the
(oxidized???) rubber and then they work OK. Warren

the new anco one are great and no hinges in them
the spring wire is inside them, they are more money but last a whole lot longer
don't buy bosch they suc they should stick to dishwashers

Robert11 wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Is there a consensus here among all the experts re which Brand, and Type, of
> wipers is the best ?
> Live in New England; lots of snow and ice.
>
> BTW: are the relatively new types without all the hinges (forget what they
> are called) better than the old
> style ? How about compared to the "winter blades" with the rubber boot over
> them ?
>
> What does GM use as OEM blades these days on Chevy and Buick ?
>
> Thanks.