Another vote for Bosch Icon wipers. Mine are usually good for about three years, oversize to your liking.

Rain-X works better for me on a Dodge than it does with a Ford mostly due to the aerodynamic characteristics of each truck.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I use a Walmart windshield washer fluid that has RainX in it. Love the stuff. Keeps the windshield clean, at certain speeds renders the wipers immaterial, and improves the wipers in a downpour.

Lots to consider here, thank you.

If you have a sensor in you washer fluid reservoir, be sure the RainX fluid is compatible. Audi/VW will not tolerate it and gum up the sensor requiring premature replacement.

As far as blades go, I have had luck with Anco blades. They last as long as OE and are a fraction of the cost.

Bosch Icon on both vehicles. I change them twice per year on average. Here in the Northwest, good wipers are a benefit.

quote:

Originally posted by Poppi:

I'm going to go against the grain with my reccomendation and say the cheapest ones you can get. It's Florida, the sun is going to degrade anything in a short matter of time, especially wiper blades. Try Ollies, I found Tristar blades for my Tundra for less than $4 each. Wiper blades denigrate very quickly in the florida sun. Best of luck

Yup. I too, am in Florida, as is ArtieS who started this thread with the question.

I arrived here 37 years ago, and have found that heat is the enemy, and I have not found any significant difference in wear, between expensive wipers and the cheapest that I can find at Walmart or Advanced Auto (they give a military / veteran discount). I just pick them by price and change as needed.

I used to pick up extra sets when I ordered from Rockauto. They always have some on close out. I’ve picked up name brand ones for under $5 a wiper. Haven’t checked in awhile so no idea what current prices are.

I have a Honda now and they have just the rubber refill in their parts list. That’s what I got last time. Just slide out the old rubber and slide in the new.

If only someone made a sleeve of some sort of material to slide over the wiper blade and protect it from the sun.....

And if you could remember to take the sleeves off when it rains....

I was just on a RV Forum and was reading about how full timers, who park for weeks at a time, have a protective material cover thing that protects the tires from sun damage. Park, place one on the tires, when ready to leave just remove, fold up and place in the storage compartment.

Actually, come to think of it, if you had a little bit, not much at all, leftover Sunbrella type fabric, you could get someone to sew up a sleeve.

Sunbrella is a brand name of sun resistant strong and durable material that is used for canopies, sun shades, patio furniture and cushions, etc. There are other brands.

The sleeves would not be practical where it rains frequently, but for example say Arizona where the sun is strong and brutal and it doesn't rain often, it would be awesome.
.

Second what Petr said. Many newer cars system cannot handle rainx. Check you manual

First world problem. I need to get wipers the are Porsche approved. If they don’t have the right aerodynamic design will flutter and not wipe at speeds.

Trico Force for me

I put the Costco Michelin Hybrid blades on my BMW a little over a month ago, and drove in a gullywasher in mid Kansas last week. They performed poorly, and I think put me in peril at times. I could see that the drivers side wiper bottom had skipping or flutter on one end, and the top end didn't really wipe the outer third on the return stroke. I think the frame was too flexible to support the rubber. It is the first time I ever thought wiper blades put me in danger. I'm going to return them.

I put a Bosch Icon on the passenger side and a similarly constructed Anco (probably Contour) on the drivers side. They work so much better than the Michelin Hybrid blades, but I haven't tested them in similar conditions that the Michelin Hybrids seemingly failed in. At this point, Bosch Icon is my preferred blade. Although I've heard good things about PIAA silicone blades.

I use rain-x.
I buy the cheapest ones in the store. I always get a year out of them

Bosch Icon.

They are legit.

Thanks to Project Farm!

This guy did a really good test of various wiper blades and put the results on YouTube. Who doesnt love a good ol’ youtube test video, right?
https://youtu.be/g3S8udUSKtY

quote:

Originally posted by hvactech:
https://youtu.be/g3S8udUSKtY

10 min video from youtube Project Farm

His "budget" recommendation is AERO which is what I recently got for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The AERO Voyager comes with an extra set of rubber blades to boot. (Rear window got a Trico blade.)

FWIW I have Bosch Icons on the 2003 Honda S2000 and Valeo Ultimates on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata LTD.

I get the cheap AERO ones as well. Also don't use the rainx in bmws. suffers the same issues as audi/vw. something in it messes with the fluid level sensor. I usually "coat" my windows whenever I'm applying a topping coat to my car. it helps rain slide off and wipers last awhile.

Bosch Icon, have them since 2020 in Florida on my F150 and are still going strong

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly:
I find here in the PNW the OEM ones you get at the parts counter for Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet will outlast most of the aftermarket brands by a substantial time. Many of the dealers stock just the refills for OEM. Toyota is good about this.

I've been going back to the dealer for refills as well. They're less expensive than the others, they seem to work better and last just as long.

I’ve used Bosch Icon for a long time, just bought a set of Bosch blades and they were called Pure Vision. I assume I’ll like them just fine. Might have to try Rain-X wiper fluid.

My Feb 2019 Bosch Icon blades are still going strong. To be fair, they have an easy life since they don't experience winter and it's a garage kept vehicle (park in middle level of parking garage at work too). The hardest thing on them is I put up the silver windshield reflector when I park in a parking lot. When I lived in Alaska and Can-eh-duh, I used Icons on those trucks and experienced multi-year life too (it helped that I clean off my windshield fully in the winter).

IME, not all Bosch wipers are created equal. A few years ago, Dad and I were driving in 40 degree rain in his car and the wipers were chattering like crazy. We stopped at a big box store about an hour into the 2.5 hour drive where purchased and installed some non-Icon Bosch (can't remember the model name, but were much cheaper even though they looked similar to the Icon). Bastards chattered almost as bad as the worn out ones we'd thrown away. The next day, Dad returned the wipers, bought some Icons, and zero chattering.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Might have to try Rain-X wiper fluid.

Since you live in WY you're already knowledgeable on fluid temps and winter. Rain-X is a little different in that they have 3 different formulas which all bead water, but much different temperatures so thankfully they color coded them:

their green colored (bug only) is only +32

their orange colored All-Season (bug and deicer) is only -20F

their purple is -30 (de-icer only) that doesn't have any bug remover in it.

Rain-X windshield is all that I use since it beads water and is the best bug remover windshield fluid I've used. About 3 months a year, I still have to be careful with the green version so I mainly buy the orange version.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.