Why are there yellow stickers on windshield wipers?

Many manufacturers of components apply special markings to their products. Most often this is done on tires, but there are similar indicators on the wipers. The AvtoVzglyad portal tells why special stickers are placed on the wiper blades, and what they mean.

The efficiency of the windshield wipers affects visibility, and therefore safety. It is understood that the mechanism itself must be in good condition, otherwise it is impossible to go to the track. At the same time, brushes must also be monitored. But many forget about it or pull it to the last, when the "wipers" begin to "crush" on the glass. Often they save on this consumable by choosing what is cheaper. Like, an elastic band is an elastic band. In fact, not everything is so simple.

A lot of factors affect the wear of the wiper rubber - from the force of pressing the leash to the air temperature and even the intensity of solar radiation. Ultraviolet has a detrimental effect on any rubber. It ages, and in the worst case, begins to crack and flake off.

In cold weather, the rubber becomes dull, the “wiper” is not completely pressed against the windshield. As a result, streaks and streaks form on the glass, which impair visibility.

That's why the major windshield wiper blade companies conduct lengthy tests to develop a rubber compound that doesn't tan in the cold and endures the summer heat. There is no such ideal rubber compound. And those that are are always compromise solutions.

Since "wipers" are sold in many countries of the world with different climates, the "survivability" of the brushes may differ. In order to understand when it would be good to replace the brushes, the engineers came up with the so-called wear indicators, which are easy to find by the yellow sticker on the brush. Most often they are a sign in the form of a circle, but there are also square markers.

After installing the brushes on the machine, you need to remove the protective yellow sticker. The label below it is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, that is, over time it will change its color. When the wipers are new, the markings will be black, and over time the color will change to yellowish.

This does not mean that you need to immediately run to the store for a new pair of brushes. The indicator will only tell you that soon the wipers need to be replaced. Of course, if the gum is still “alive” and there are no dirty stripes on the glass, you can pull it with a replacement. But it’s better not to save on your own safety, because the better the visibility, the calmer the driver is behind the wheel, and the eyes get tired less.