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6 Best Windshield Wipers in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Vintage car windshield_MaxTokarev_Unsplash

Vintage car windshield_MaxTokarev_Unsplash

Windshield wipers are one of the cheapest parts of your car, but they’re also one place where quality makes a noticeable difference.

A fresh set of wipers can drastically improve drives in harsh weather, as you’ll enjoy quieter operation and a completely clear windshield. They won’t cost a fortune either, so if you’re ready to upgrade your bad weather driving experience, we’ll make the decision easy with these reviews of the six best windshield wipers today.

car and road divider

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Bosch ICON Bosch ICON
  • ClearMax 365 rubber resists damage from heat and ozone
  • Dual tensioned steel spring creates a tight, custom-contoured fit to your windshield
  • Asymmetric airfoil holds the blade down on the glass at high speeds
  • Best Value
    Second place
    AERO Voyager All-Season Windshield Wipers AERO Voyager All-Season Windshield Wipers
  • Specially blended rubber reduces streaking and chatter
  • Aerodynamic construction reduces lift, drag, and noise
  • Extreme temperature tolerance makes it last in demanding driving conditions
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Michelin Stealth Ultra Michelin Stealth Ultra
  • Innovative Smart hinge and suspension system provides a firm hold from end to end
  • Flexible cover delivers consistent protection from ice and debris
  • EZ-Lok connector makes it easy to swap blades
  • Rain-X Latitude Rain-X Latitude
  • Applies water-repellent coating to the windshield for natural resistance
  • Beam design provides consistent pressure and streak-free wipes
  • Adaptor makes it easy to connect to most vehicles
  • PIAA 95065 Super Silicone Wiper Blade PIAA 95065 Super Silicone Wiper Blade
  • Silicone wipers last twice as long as conventional rubber blades
  • Refillable silicone blade saves money on replacements
  • Blades resist wear from ozone and extreme heat
  • The 6 Best Windshield Wipers

    1. Bosch ICON – Best Overall

    Bosch ICON

    Material: Dual rubber
    Style: Beam
    Lengths: 13”–28”

    The ICON from Bosch is an achievement in matching performance and longevity with simplicity and convenience. A sturdy weather-shielded connector protects the arm in harsh weather, and Bosch markets the ClearMax 365 dual rubber as lasting up to 40% longer than similar blades. The buttoned-up system leaves little room for ice, water, heat, and debris to cause damage.

    On the performance end, the ICON offers an exclusive spring tension construction to apply even pressure perfectly contoured to your windshield’s shape. The aerodynamic design adds downward force to deliver even more pressure at high speeds, preventing lifting and ensuring smooth cleaning. It’s an exceptional all-weather blade that supplies a consistently smooth motion even through harsh weather and is our choice for the best overall windshield wiper available.

    Pros
    • ClearMax 365 rubber resists damage from heat and ozone
    • Dual tensioned steel spring creates a tight, custom-contoured fit to your windshield
    • Asymmetric airfoil holds the blade down on the glass at high speeds
    • Easy to install
    Cons
    • May need an adapter for some models

    2. AERO Voyager All-Season Windshield Wipers – Best Value

    AERO Voyager All-Season Windshield Wipers

    Material: Rubber with Teflon coating
    Style: Beam
    Lengths: 13”–28”

    Two blades with refills and a year-long warranty give you tons of bang for your buck, making the AERO Voyager the best windshield wiper for the money. And even though the quantity is impressive, the quality isn’t lacking either. The blade can last up to a year before streaking becomes a problem, and the refill  doubles the product’s lifespan. You get all of the benefits of a solid beam blade—consistent pressure across the wiper, reduced drag, quiet performance, and skip-free operation.

    Pros
    • Specially blended rubber reduces streaking and chatter
    • Aerodynamic construction reduces lift, drag, and noise
    • Extreme temperature tolerance makes it last in demanding driving conditions
    • Simple and fast connection
    Cons
    • Center may have inconsistent pressure and leave streaks
    • Compatible only with J-hook

    3. Michelin Stealth Ultra – Premium Choice

    Michelin Stealth Ultra

    Material: Natural rubber
    Style: Hybrid
    Lengths: 14”–28”

    The hybrid design of the Michelin Stealth Ultra combines the steady force of a conventional wiper with the streak-free performance and protected design of a beam blade. Michelin emphasizes the Smart-Flex design, which includes a segmented independent suspension system that supplies a consistent hold to the windshield as the blade moves and flexes.

    The Stealth Ultra’s segmented cover matches the interior suspension, allowing the encasing to flex with the blade for undisrupted protection. It’s rated to last for several hundred thousand wipes, and when it finally comes time to swap it out, you get an intuitive EZ-Lok connection for a fast, secure installation.

    Pros
    • Innovative Smart hinge and suspension system provides a firm hold from end to end
    • Flexible cover delivers consistent protection from ice and debris
    • EZ-Lok connector makes it easy to swap blades
    Cons
    • Casing may come into contact with the windshield

    4. Rain-X Latitude

    Rain-X Latitude

    Material: Natural rubber
    Style: Beam
    Lengths: 14”–28”

    The Latitude from Rain-X takes some of the focus off of the blade and puts it on your windshield. The wiper blade fortifies the glass with a water-repellent coating. The coating makes water bead off, improving visibility even when your windshield wipers aren’t moving.

    With the unique 2-in-1 treatment, it would be easy for Rain-X to hide behind the novelty of the water-repellant formula and skimp on the blade itself. Thankfully, they applied the same level of thoughtfulness to their synthetic rubber beam blade design. A pre-installed universal adapter makes it a snap to attach to most vehicles, and the beam design is one of Rain-X’s most consistently smooth performers.

    Pros
    • Applies water-repellent coating to the windshield for natural resistance
    • Beam design provides consistent pressure and streak-free wipes
    • Adaptor makes it easy to connect to most vehicles
    Cons
    • Blade can slide off if not installed properly

    5. PIAA 95065 Super Silicone Wiper Blade

    PIAA 95065 Super Silicone Wiper Blade

    Material: Silicone
    Style: Conventional
    Lengths: 12”–26”

    Like the Rain-X Latitude, PIAA’s Super Silicone wipers apply a water-repellent treatment to your windshield to enhance the overall performance of your blades. It’s yet another innovative angle on windshield wiper design that makes for good marketing, but the true champion of this model is the silicone blade.

    The silicone wiper blade can last twice as long as a conventional rubber blade. It gives you enduring performance and sustained visibility without falling victim to ozone and extreme heat. And when the silicone strip finally fails, the traditional frame means you can swap the silicone without having to replace the entire wiper.

    Pros
    • Silicone wipers last twice as long as conventional rubber blades
    • Refillable silicone blade saves money on replacements
    • Blades resist wear from ozone and extreme heat
    Cons
    • Conventional frame can trap debris
    • Exposed frame isn’t as attractive as beam styles
    • May lift away at high speeds

    6. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Wiper Blade

    Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Wiper Blade

    Material: Natural rubber
    Style: Hybrid
    Lengths: 14”–28”

    The Assurance WeatherReady wipers are a no-frills approach to blades that stick to the Goodyear tradition of quality and proven performance. An aerodynamic frame prevents wind lift and protects the interior suspension, while the joints themselves adjust to the shape of your windshield for even pressure distribution. Easy-to-use and reliable, it’s a simple, effective blade from a brand you can trust.

    Pros
    • ResponsEdge conforms to your windshield’s unique contours
    • Air-deflecting design reduces lift and maintains pressure
    • Resists damage from extreme temperatures, oxidation, ozone, and chemicals
    • Universal adapter works with most cars
    Cons
    • Installation can be tricky

    car and road divider

    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Windshield Wipers

    Sizing Your Windshield Wipers

    Windshield wipers come in several sizes and locking styles, so you must research products compatible with your vehicle model. Fortunately, you can find the answers you need in several convenient ways:

    • Referencing your vehicle’s manual
    • Measuring your car’s wiper blades
    • Checking your favorite windshield wiper brand’s website for sizing
    • Using a wiper sizing tool at an online auto parts store

    Reference tools are also available at your local auto parts retailer for you to use before buying your next set of blades. It’s also crucial to check the connection type on your car’s metal wiper arm, as some wipers use hooks and others attach via pins. Many wiper blades have universal connectors, but it’s always helpful to double-check your car’s wiper arms.

    Types of Windshield Wipers

    The longevity and performance of your wipers depend primarily on the style. Some wipers work specifically for winter conditions, heavy rain, and other intense weather, but in general, there are three blade designs available—conventional, beam, and hybrid.

    Conventional Frame Style

    Conventional frame-style windshield wipers are the cheapest and simplest option available. They were the standard for most older vehicles.

    The exposed metal bridge on a conventional frame connects to a rubber blade via several levers. The levers touch the rubber blade at evenly spaced intervals to press it down and shape it to match the windshield. When the wiper is up, it straightens out.

    Conventional windshield wiper_CharlesLoyer_Unsplash
    Image Credit: Charles Loyer, Unsplash

    These wipers have several drawbacks. The exposed frame catches ice and debris, risking wear and tear, and it’s not as aerodynamic as newer options, allowing it to lift at high speeds. Performance-wise, the limited contact points create uneven pressure distribution, which can cause streaks. Conventional blades are inexpensive, but they won’t last as long as a beam or hybrid blade, and performance will likely be inferior.

    Beam

    A beam windshield wiper blade gives you a sleek aesthetic and enhanced performance. Instead of using levers and contact points, a beam wiper incorporates a curved steel beam hidden beneath the rubber strip for an all-in-one blade design. The curved metal creates a continuous line of even pressure, improving the blade’s clearing ability and providing a streak-free view.

    Unlike a conventional system, the beam-style framework has protection, allowing it to last and perform longer in ice and snow. It also includes an airfoil that uses the wind to press it to the windshield and reduce wind lift at high speeds.

    Hybrid

    A hybrid blade uses principles of beam and conventional wipers. The curved, concealed frame looks like a beam wiper, but it is usually more aerodynamic. You may also find some hybrids with gaps for debris like ice chunks to escape. These blades generally perform much like beam blades but are often better for harsh weather conditions.

    How Often Should I Replace My Wipers?

    Traditional frame-style wipers tend to wear out the fastest, often lasting about six months or so. The one benefit of these wipers over beam blades is that you don’t always have to replace the entire wiper, so if you want to pinch some pennies, you can just use a new rubber strip on the same frame. Still, given the low cost of high-quality blades, it’s often more convenient and cost-effective to upgrade to a beam blade. Beam wipers will last 12 months or more in typical conditions.

    How To Maintain Your Windshield Wipers

    Replacing wipers is a relatively inexpensive chore, but maintaining them is even cheaper. The essential concern is keeping your windshield and wipers as clean as possible.

    Dirt, grime, dead bugs, and other buildup on the windshield create a coarse surface for your wipers every time you turn them on. Keep the windshield clean, and you won’t have to worry about abrasive materials impacting and eating away at the rubber or silicone blade.

    Cleaning the wipers with water and mild soap when they get dirty will prevent them from drying out, losing flexibility, and breaking. Run your wipers on occasion to let the blade flex back and forth. If they sit too long and become rigid, they won’t bend as they move one way across the windshield, causing them to skip.

    Cleaning windshield wiper_ErikMclean_Unsplash
    Image Credit: Erik Mclean, Unsplash

    Aside from cleaning, focus on being kind to your blades. Keep your wiper fluid full to deal with random bug splatter or kicked-up debris, and always use a scraper on tough buildup before hitting the road. Don’t rely on your blades to move heavy ice and snow.

    car and road divider

    Conclusion

    Finding a usable wiper blade isn’t challenging when you know how to research options for your car. Finding the best value becomes a little trickier, and it can be hard to translate nuances between blades into tangible benefits. Our top choice of windshield wipers is the Bosch ICON for its durability and aerodynamic design, and our best value selection is the AERO Voyager All-Season for its harsh weather tolerance and simple installation. With these reviews on the best windshield wipers this year, you have more than enough to find an excellent set of windshield wipers that will offer reliable and enduring performance.


    Featured Image Credit: Max Tokarev, Unsplash

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