Cheapo wiper blades vs. expensive

[JDgreen227]

Our local Meijers stores are currently advertising the premium blades like the Trico Neoform that are priced at $14.99-$18.99 each, but about two weeks ago Menards was selling the Dupont brand blades for $3.99 each, and it was buy one blade, get one free...meaning you could get a pair of blades for $4 and tax.

I have never understood the logic of buying expensive wiper blades because there seems to be no difference in service life, especially for the people like me who replace the blades on their vehicles every November first anyhow. In the past I have purchased the mid-priced Rain X brand ($9 each) and they seemed to work no better than the OEM brand wipers, which have to be about the cheapest ones GM could put on a car.

Any comments?

 

[toppop52]

Around here the super cheap blades suck! Often not as good or no better than what I took off. So I won't buy anything less than at least mid quality blades, they last longer and work better initially. Now I don't see any sense in buying $20 blades, but a lot of those cheapies won't last through the first rainy spell of fall here.

 

[JimRB]

I have had OEM blades work for 3-4 years. Maybe longer. On the rear of my car that wiper never seems to last but it suffers from diesel exhaust which might cause premature wear. Some blades use natural rubber while others use synthetic rubbers. Which one last longer I have not figured out. My VW OEM blades purchased from an online vendor that gets them from from the manufacturer, the blades are not cheap but they seem to work for a few years. I think I am on set 2 or maybe set three on my car built in the summer of 2002. No idea about GM blades. None of my friends have bought new cars recently but I do recall that when they did their blades on Fords, Toyotas, Subarus and Nissans lasted more than a few years. Note of course that we live in the south where winter is rain, not slop from sand, salt and other crud from icy and snowy roads. Everything on our cars suffers less than what cars in the rust belt suffer.

 

[k0ua]

Our local Meijers stores are currently advertising the premium blades like the Trico Neoform that are priced at $14.99-$18.99 each, but about two weeks ago Menards was selling the Dupont brand blades for $3.99 each, and it was buy one blade, get one free...meaning you could get a pair of blades for $4 and tax.

I have never understood the logic of buying expensive wiper blades because there seems to be no difference in service life, especially for the people like me who replace the blades on their vehicles every November first anyhow. In the past I have purchased the mid-priced Rain X brand ($9 each) and they seemed to work no better than the OEM brand wipers, which have to be about the cheapest ones GM could put on a car.

Any comments?

This is just my opinion, but it seems to me the OEM blades are the best wiper blades the car will ever have on it. They last the longest and work the best. Now maybe I am buying cheap replacement blades, but everything I try to replace the OEM blades with seem to never last as long or work as well.. again just an opinion.

James K0UA

 

[dodge man]

I tend to buy the lower priced blades, but not the cheapest. I also can't tell any difference between the expensive ones and the cheap ones.

 

[toppop52]

I drive mostly GM vehicles and find their blades last about like all the other new car units, which like someone said, last far longer than replacements, regardless of cost. It may have to do with the condition of the wiper arms themselves as well as the windshield being new and smooth.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My take on it is I buy the mid priced blades like you from Menards when they are on sale. Our climate plays heck on them so they just do not last.

The Ford blades that come on from the factory last 3X as long as any aftermarket blade I have bought. My neighbor who is a die hard GM man even goes and buys Ford blades at the dealer. I am too cheap.:laughing:

Chris

 

[greasemonkeyok]

The two biggest factors that deteriorate wiper blades are sunlight and deicing fluids. Some blade materials resist both better than others, and maybe someone else can give us the inside scoop.

I recall that decades ago the rubber from Germany was inferior to US made rubber.

 

[k0ua]

I drive mostly GM vehicles and find their blades last about like all the other new car units, which like someone said, last far longer than replacements, regardless of cost. It may have to do with the condition of the wiper arms themselves as well as the windshield being new and smooth.

I have also wondered about that, it just seemed to me that the OEM blades always lasted the longest vs. any replacement, but maybe it is the arms and the condition of the surface of the glass itself. I know when the glass is new water beads up on it and a lot of times with a new windshield you can get by without wipers at all in a moderate shower. I am guessing it is because the glass is not full of pits and microscopic scratches.

James K0UA

 

[toppop52]

I have a Ford Van, a GMC van, a Tahoe, A Pacifica and an Olds 442, there wasn't a nickel's worth of difference in how long the originals lasted. Ford didn't last any longer than Chrysler or GM.

 

[grsthegreat]

Well i think the more expensive blades work better on my rigs. I buy the ones that are totally encased in a rubber outer layer so ICE will not freeze the wiper and prevent it from properly cleaning the windshield. I have bought both the chepo types and these expensive ones, and the expensive ones win hands down. They may not last alot longer, but the do a much better job while operating.

 

[jonyyuma]

If you have a Fred's dollar store, check them out for the complete assy, arm, rubber and adapters...

 

[devildog1]

Humm,
Replaced my oem wipers on my F-350, bought the premium blades Botch
( I think,spell) They seem to last two years, I believe they had a silicone edge on them. Went across country in all kinds of weather and they preformed great, about $18.00 in Auto-Zone. I agree the oem blades seem to last the longest as If my memory serves me right I must of had them on truck for three years.
DevilDog

 

[Qapla]

On another forum I recall someone discussing the cost of wiper blades. They said something about all the money people are willing to spend on all sorts of MODS, but then they try to get by with the cheapest wiper blades they can find. They were pointing out that wiper blades are really quite important since they play a vital role in our being able to use the vehicle safely in the worst types of weather.

That said, here in the Sunshine State it doesn't seem to matter how much you spend on blades, the Florida sun kills them in a years time.

Over the years I have used from the cheap ones to the expensive ones and have found none last. What makes more sense to me is to buy ones that WORK.

By this, I mean I want ones that wipe the water off and can endure "love bug" season. I also want ones that don't "lift" at highway speeds and ones that don't leave "wet" spots, especially in critical spots.

I have found that the expensive ones lift more and do not do a thorough cleaning job on the entire surface of my windshield. I have had the best success with the "dual" blades I got from WalMart for around $10 each side.

 

[toppop52]

One of the most effective things you can do is raise the arm up, bend it to put a little more pressure down on the glass, and clean the blades every couple of weeks with a good non alkaline cleaner.

 

[JDgreen227]

Well i think the more expensive blades work better on my rigs. I buy the ones that are totally encased in a rubber outer layer so ICE will not freeze the wiper and prevent it from properly cleaning the windshield. I have bought both the chepo types and these expensive ones, and the expensive ones win hands down. They may not last alot longer, but the do a much better job while operating.

In winter, I use the ANCO winter blades on my GMC, and they perform well in icy conditions. I can probably get by using the cheaper ones because of low mileage (less than 2000 per year) and vehicles are mostly garaged and out of the sun 95% of the time. BTW, was at Meijers this morning, even the cheapest blade they sell was labeled as "natural rubber".

 

[Scooby074]

I use the Bosch metal frame ones exclusively..

Price isnt bad and they work well.

I swear ive tried them all from Mastercraft to Armorall and bosch is the best thats not OEM.

I also avoid the new frameless design. I find they dont give even pressure so they dont completely wipe the really curved sections of the windshield.

 

[Fixemall]

A good coating of ice wax on the windshield after cleaning it with an alcohol based cleaner will make even the cheapest junk perform better than they should.

 

[Willl]

at least mid quality blades

Curious as to how you pick the "mid" ones ?

Is there a brand you prefer ?

 

[bigtiller]

I use Rain-X or any other type of glass polish and seldom ever need to turn on the wipers. The only bad part is, I have to reapply it every 3 to 4 weeks.