Did you know that there are actually winter blades and summer blades, both made to keep your windshield clear in varying conditions? Learn about the different types of wiper blades with the help of Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Summer Windshield Wiper Blades
In the summer, you’ll really only have to worry about rain on your windshield. Summer blades are lightweight and thin, when compared to the winter blades.
Light, Natural Rubber – Summer blades usually have a thin layer of natural rubber around the frames. The thin, lighter rubber works well when the weather warms up and it has to make contact with your windshield.
Lightweight Frame – The thin, lightweight frame is more aesthetically-pleasing than the thick winter blades. They don’t take up a lot of room on your windshield, and really only need to go to work when it’s raining.
Lattice Arms – This is what sets winter and summer blades apart. Summer wiper blades have a lattice framework, which consists of different pivot points and bars that make the wiper blades work. In the winter, these get jammed with ice and snow – making it extremely difficult to clean off your windshield.
Winter Windshield Wiper Blades
If you live in the Midwest, you know we get our fair share of snow in the winter. Winter wipes blades are bigger and sturdier so they can take on inclement weather all winter long.
Sturdy Frame – The framework of winter wipers is designed to keep them moving, despite cold and snow. Since the wiper blade is covered by thick rubber, there are no exposed parts that can get clogged up with ice and snow. Plus, the sturdier frame does a better job handling blizzards and freezing rain when compared to summer blades.
Large, Synthetic Rubber – The large, rubber covering keeps the wiper frame snow- and ice-free so your windshield stays clear. There’s no exposed framework because of the protective rubber shield. The rubber, typically made from synthetic materials like Teflon and silicone, stays flexible and soft. This way the blade doesn’t tear and can keep working – even in freezing temps.
Having the right windshield wipers can help you keep safe on the road. I have the METO T6 Silicone Windshield Wiper Blades on my 2017 Ford F-150. I bought two pair just incase I needed a spare.
