How to choose car wipers? Flexible or flat mats?
Proper cleaning of the windshield is of particular importance in winter, when the road is slushy, salty and other deposits. A shorter day and frequent rainfall do not improve the situation. At this time of the year, it is especially important to have serviceable wipers, which carefully and without streaks remove all dirt from the glass.
The condition of the wiper blades should grab our attention as they leave streaks. Not a problem if these are small marks out of sight. The problem starts when the rubber bands, instead of cleaning, smear dirt on the glass, reducing visibility, or leave a watery film that sharply distorts the image. This is a sign that it's time to replace them. The sign is not the only one. Squeaking, separation of feathers from the glass during operation or their wear (for example, corrosion) is a sufficient argument that should encourage us to buy new wipers. Moreover, damaged blades can easily scratch the glass.
The first parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing wipers is the length of the brushes. You can measure the old ones and choose the size of the new ones according to them, and you can also use the catalogs prepared by the manufacturers of auto accessories. You should pay attention to whether our machine has blades of the same length or different lengths. Installing blades that are too long can cause friction against each other, blades that are too short will leave large areas of uncleaned glass. When buying, it is important to check the way the blades are attached. Most manufacturers add adapters that allow them to fit on different hands.
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When we determine what length of nibs we should buy, we will need to choose the type of nibs. The market offer is divided into aerodynamic (flat) wipers and wipers with a traditional frame design. The former are more expensive (70-130 PLN on average) but, at least in theory, they will adhere better to glass at higher speeds and should have an extended lifespan. Classic frame feathers are cheaper (up to PLN 50), but they are also more prone to mechanical damage and can also rust. Their advantage is the ability to replace the rubber element itself, which is pocket-friendly and environmentally friendly - no unnecessary debris is created. True, some of the classic blades are equipped with a spoiler that improves the pressure on the glass of the lever installed on the driver's side, but it will work worse than in the case of flat wipers.
Another important issue is the type of material from which the rubber elements of the wipers are made. The best are made from a rubber compound with added graphite to improve nib performance and durability. Cheaper ones will be from different types of rubber.
While the wear and tear on the front wipers naturally attracts the driver's attention more often, we often forget about the rear wiper. It is installed in cars subject to rapid contamination of the rear wall of the car - most often in station wagons and hatchbacks. For this reason, its efficiency is of great importance for the driving safety of these vehicles. When replacing it, please note that in some car models the rear wiper is replaced along with the entire lever.
The effectiveness of the new brushes can be improved by avoiding wipers on ice-covered glass. When approaching a car left under a cloud on a cold night, we will check if the wipers are frozen to the windshield, and if so, if possible, do not tear them off it, but try using a de-icer. Do not spare the washer fluid - both the windshield and the rubber of the wipers do not like dry running.
You should be careful with products of unknown brands sold in supermarkets. The miser loses twice - it may turn out that cheap wipers will need to be replaced quickly, and the savings on buying them will be obvious. Regardless of the type of feathers you buy, one thing must be said - every new and properly fitted wiper will be better than a used one.
