What does NICO buy for wiper blades?

[OriginalWheelman]

I used to run the single blade wipers but they suck a** at moving snow. While it's nice that they don't jam up with ice, they get carved up by it and I end up replacing them after the winter no matter what. So I've gone back to regular wipers. I buy the NAPA blades (because I get super discount time) and the NAPA winter blades for the winter. Every 6 months or so I spend $10 and I get fresh windshield cleaning power.

Since we are on the subject of wipers, I always keep one of my old wipers in the car, for days when the windshield is fogged up. I simply wipe the inside of the windshield with the wiper and I"m off, instead of 10 minutes of defroster or awkward hand streaks on the glass.

[elwesso]

I have tried the single blades and do not like them. I run a slightly bigger than factory blade on the drivers side (26 vs 24 I think, and the single blades did not do good. While in the winter they don't get iced up as much I feel like ice gets stuck under them easier.

I have in the past just gotten the cheap ones and replaced twice a year before winter and after winter. The ones I have now are like 4 months old and streaking something fierce. I may try the silicon ones that z recommends.

[szh]

I may try the silicon ones that z recommends.

I'd be interested in your experience comparing it to what you use today ... Of course, just get the regular 6 point contact version rather than the single flat blade version (I am coming to the conclusion that these just don't work as well as they should).

I speculate (wildly ) that the wiper spring pressure on my car is forcing the center of the single blade down too much for it to stay properly seated along its entire edge - the multiple arm version should avoid this!

Z

[breadbox]

Rain-x and whatever less than $10 a side gets me.

[xekushnr]

Its funny how I see this thread and i just bought a wiper today; Bosch Icon. I only bought one cuz they're so damn expensive. The difference really is staggering. The blade I replaced was branded Bosch as well so it must be an old Micro Edge. No streaks on the drivers side, while the passenger streaks and leaves water all over the windshield. You get what you pay for.

[Jman0711]

Bosch Icon's on my car. I got them cause they where on sale at my local Autozone work pretty damn good. I do my best to clean them often which helps keep them working great.

[Loki]

Its funny how I see this thread and i just bought a wiper today; Bosch Icon. I only bought one cuz they're so damn expensive. The difference really is staggering. The blade I replaced was branded Bosch as well so it must be an old Micro Edge. No streaks on the drivers side, while the passenger streaks and leaves water all over the windshield. You get what you pay for.

Gotta look online. Off of amazon I can pick up my RainX Latitudes for about $15 each, which isn't too wildly expensive.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

All the wipers I've bought dry out and deteriorate before I get to use them more than once or twice. So now I just pick up the cheapest ones they have at Walmart if I know it's going to rain more than a few times that week. lol.

Yeah same here. I've dropped the $40 on Icons before and wasn't impressed. I definitely have better luck with the old school stamped steel design. Also, the cheapo wal mart ones usually last for 4 or so months, but sometimes you'll get a good set that somehow lasts over a year (what I'm rocking now).

[xekushnr]

Gotta look online. Off of amazon I can pick up my RainX Latitudes for about $15 each, which isn't too wildly expensive.

Thats how much we sell them for at my store, so youre not really saving anything. Occasionally they go on sale and you get the second one half off. Icons are typically a buck or two more per blade but they seem to work a bit better and last longer.

[Jesda]

Costco. Get wipers and a hot dog.

[asoomal]

Piaa Super Silicone's

[MinisterofDOOM]

Michelin Radius.

Yep, same here--on multiple vehicles.

We have nasty winters here and the Michelins just keep on going. Icy windshields, heavy snow, huge temperature variations--they stand up to all of it far better than any other blade I've ever used. They also "clean" themselves better. On the occasions that they do develop "dead spots," a few seconds or minutes on high speed flexes the blades back into shape and gets them wiping a clean track again.

My favorite part about them other than their ability to withstand ice on the windshield without tearing is that all you have to do to get ice off them in the morning is pick them up and whack them on the windshield once or twice. No iced up joints to mess with.

Even on my LS, which has mismatched wipers and a long 24'' blade on one side, there's no excess flex in the wrong direction.

I know Michelin's got some new hybrid wipers out (combo frame/springbar setup) and I'm interested to see how they perform, but the Radiuses have worked so well I don't feel like taking a gamble on something else. I've never used a wiper blade that has lasted as long as these do, on any car.

I also like that they look clean when hiding in the cowl. I'd never buy a purely functional part like a wiper blade based on looks, but the cleaner look of the Michelins is certainly a nice bonus.