Ok, Snow folks, what's your prefered winter wiper blade?

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 02 Feb 2022, 14:44

I have no idea what's on the car, now, but I'd like to get a winter blade. What have you found that works well, or that doesn't work well, and that I should avoid?

Post by **BlackBart** » 02 Feb 2022, 16:12

The ones that aren't $30 apiece, stay flat against the windshield, and don't disintegrate in 4 months. I've been pretty frustrated with the quality of wipers the last couple of years, and they've figured out it's a commodity they can market and milk. I used to just buy the basic Bosch and they were great. There are no basic ones now. Each brand has 6 or 10 different models with features and gimmicks.

I haven't answered your question.

befarrer · Post by **befarrer** » 02 Feb 2022, 16:25

I have cheap ones too. I find most don't work well because they get ice under the blade, or ice freezing on them so they don't flex to the contour of the windshield. These will happen with any blade.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 02 Feb 2022, 18:21

Each company had many variations/levels/gimmicks, but I thought usually only one model for winter. I'll admit, I haven't looked carefully, Though. The last winter blades, I bought were Trico, I think, and I did not care for them. I had them for my Saturn, and they'd wobble, lift at speed, or something.... Don't recall for sure, as I haven't used them this year.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 02 Feb 2022, 19:09

Bosch Icon.
Expensive? Yes.
Totally worth it.

And let your car warm up long enough
to defrost and deice the windshield.

Also very important, keep the car clear of snow.
Get it off ASAP. The longer it’s on your car, the
more it melts and sets up when it refreezes,
and the more problems you encounter.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Feb 2022, 19:36

I’ve been happy with the Volvo OE brand blades, I FreeCP them

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 02 Feb 2022, 20:09

abscate wrote: ↑02 Feb 2022, 19:36 I’ve been happy with the Volvo OE brand blades, I FreeCP them

I'm not seeing a Volvo offering on FCP for the front, just the rear. They do have various Bosch, including the Icons mentioned above.

I'm kind of wondering what's on the car now.... but not enough to go outside in the snow and check.

Post by **scot850** » 02 Feb 2022, 20:10

I like the OE ones too. Pricey but they work and have the wind pressure spoiler on them on the driver's side which helps keep it down on the windshield.

Clearing the windshield as mentioned about is how to make them last. I know some that put a cloth under the blades to try to stop them sticking to the windshield and easier to remove the snow/ice.

Neil.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 02 Feb 2022, 20:19

scot850 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2022, 20:10 Clearing the windshield as mentioned about is how to make them last. I know some that put a cloth under the blades to try to stop them sticking to the windshield and easier to remove the snow/ice.

Neil.

I don't typically have issues with them sticking. If they are stuck, I just hit them with the bristles on my snow brush. The bristles of course flex, but they usually come unstuck without a problem. I see people putting their wiper arms up all the time, now. That's always seemed silly to me. It used to be a sure sign of a southerner in MI.

I try to clean the windshield as best as I can before running the wipers, so as not to be running them over a rough surface.

Apparently none of you actually use winter blades, and run the same wipers year round? I guess the mono-beams aren't as susceptible to skipping portions of the windshield due to ice in the frame joints, since there are no frame joints.

Post by **scot850** » 02 Feb 2022, 23:07

I have run the mono blades and have winter Volvo blades. They work ok. The aftermarket ones like Michelin I found lousy. Got them at Costco and returned them multiple times as they would lift up at the ends or miss sections of the windshield.

I have heard some people used Rain-X blades with reasonable success.

Neil.