Humans are visual beings. It's a fact that the
majority of the information we glean about our surroundings — and the
decisions we make based on that information — comes from things we see.
That's why it is vitally important that we do everything possible to
keep our vision clear inside our vehicles. After all, you really want to
see that gray 18-wheeler hurtling toward you in a rainstorm. And the
best way to do that is to make sure your wiper blades are in perfect
working order. The majority of wiper blades are constructed with a rubber wiping
element, which provides optimum friction to clear glass of water.
Because rubber is a natural compound, it breaks down for a variety of
reasons: • Ozone in the atmosphere (especially prominent in high-traffic urban
and suburban areas) can oxidize the rubber and create cracks in its
surface; as these cracks propagate and grow, they will allow water to
pass through, creating streaks on the windshield. The more streaks that
occur, the less visual clarity a driver will have through the
windshield. • Heat is a killer. On a hot summer day, the windshield of a vehicle can
reach temperatures up to 145° F, which slowly "cooks” the rubber wiper
blades until they lose their flexibility and crack. This too will cause
streaking or "chattering.” • Cold temperatures also contribute to a wiper’s demise; as the rubber
gets harder in cold temps and loses its flexibility, it allows water to
leak under the rubber surface, "smearing" the surface of the windshield
instead of wiping it cleanly away. While there's no set industry standard, most wiper manufacturers
recommend replacing blades every six to nine months based on how the
wipers are performing and local conditions. Even a tiny streak during a
test can become a major impairment to your vision during a rainstorm. Most drivers are familiar with the traditional frame-style wipers. These
use a metal frame to stretch a piece of rubber across the windshield, a
design largely unchanged since the early 1900s. The last decade,
however, has seen the advent of "beam” or "flat” wipers, the first
revolutionary change in wiper blade design in more than a century. Flat blades are made from a single piece of curved plastic that suspends the rubber wiping element. The benefit? "Flat blades were designed to provide almost uniform pressure
distribution across a windshield,” said Shawn Subramaniam, technical
manager with Shell Oil. "Instead of the ‘hill and valley’ pressure
points you get with a traditional wiper, points that can allow water to
streak or smear, flat blades provide a more uniform wipe." In addition to providing superior wiping, flat blades are also smaller
and more streamlined than traditional wipers, making them more
aesthetically pleasing to many drivers and generating less wind noise.
Many models are also designed with a built-in "spoiler" that keeps the
blade in close contact with the windshield even at highway speeds. The best part about flat blades? Thanks to adapters found in many blade
sets, even vehicles not factory-equipped with these new blades can be
retrofitted with them, giving all drivers the opportunity to experience
the maximum in windshield wiping performance—and allowing them to see
better in rainy or wet conditions.