So I am long past due for new windshield wipper blades and I've narrowed my search down to these two. PIAA Super Silicone and Rain-X Latitude Wiper Blades. Please way in your thoughts especially if you have tried both. I know I have seen a lot of people on this site like the PIAAs, but no one has compared the 2. I drive about an hour every day through the mountains, so I can pass thru 3 different types of weather in 30 minutes.
I have the Rain-X Latitude on one side and Anco Contour Premium (also silicone) on the other, installed the same week. Both work just fine right now; will report later on how they wear/last. Can't help on the PIAA.
Based on 2+ years experience with a local brand (Silblade, no longer available), silicone blades are far superior to old-style blades. Whether it's Rain-X, Anco, PIAA, Bosch, etc., might not matter much.
I had the PIAAs on my Acura for years, and LOVED them. I just installed the PIAAs on my E, so no report yet. My brother just bought and installed the RainX wipers on his G35. As soon as I can get some real data, I will report. I voted for the PIAAs because I know they work great!!
I put Bosch on the day I bought my E.
They lasted about 9 months.
I have had Rain-X on since, 16 months and still are like new.
And it rains up here, ya know...
I had a pair of Bosch Icon on my car for quite a while. Here our issue isn't how well they work, but how long they last. Heat and dry rot are our issues, not over use. The Icon's have a nice look to them too.
I tired a set of the style the are a single blade no pressure point deals and immediately took them back. I couldn't get an even contact across the blade and left portions of the windshield un-wiped so I just went back to the el cheapo's Aanco or what ever they have at my local auto parts store.
Believe it or not, the ANCO winter wipers are the best ones I've ever found for extreme winter use. I take off my PIAA's and just use those instead to take the salt & sand & abuse.
The Bosch blades did not last. The PIAA's chattered after only one winter. I now have the ANCO silicone blades on it. I like them more than any of the others so far.
I too have the RainX Latitude wiper blades on my E'.I've had mine for quite sometime and I really like them.Every once and a while I wipe them down with an alcohol prep pad and then follow up with a very light coat of 303 protectant.
i currently have the michelin optimum, same as the rain x latitude but $10 cheaper a set at target and so far theyre pretty good blades. Plus they look cool. Gives you the "luxury" look and feel since benz, bmw, etc use the Bosch Icons..same thing.
I have had both and the rain x are good but wear out fast. The piaa silicones are much better all around and last a long time both in winter and summer.
I've just finished a 16 month stint on Smartblades from Sams club. Loved them, cleans the windshield very well even against slushy ice and mud. They also have a wear indicator, that tells you about when the rubber is passing it's prime. Mine still work great, even though the indicator is showing replacement time.
well price and consumer reports won out. Advanced Auto has the rainx latitudes on sale for $10 off when you buy a set. So I got a pair for less than $30. I figured it was a good deal
whatever you do avoid the synthetic rubber ones that Walmart sells. Not sure the brand name.
They are more expensive than Anco, Bosch and Rain X. I think I spent somewhere like $10 a piece maybe more on them and they are garbage.
They guaranteed no streaking and no squealing. First time I used them, squeakage and streaking. The reason I bought them was because they were guaranteed for something like 5 years.
STAY AWAY !!!! they are garbage.
This is how bad they were....I took my car into the dealership for an oil change 2 weeks after installing them, they washed the car and said "sir do you want us to replace your wipers" they are pretty bad. Said no thanks just spent $20 2 weeks ago on brand new ones. lol
But yeah, I know they do look bad. Sad but they are new.
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