Winter Wiper Blades: What Makes Them Different and Why You Need Them

The rubber harvested from the rubber tree requires additives to perform well in certain conditions. Otherwise, it will become soft and tacky in warm weather and brittle in cold. That’s why a synthetic rubber, such as silicone, provides the best performance.

Winter blades may also have ceramic coatings to give them more strength and endurance, just like you might have a ceramic coating on your vehicle to protect its paint.

Both products contain the same base ingredients: ceramic nanoparticles (think super fine sand) and a liquid polymer. The coating, when applied to windshield wipers, reduces friction against the windshield and protects against UV and ozone damage.

Another form of coating on wipers is graphite. It reduces friction between the rubber blades and the glass of your windshield for smoother functionality.

A bonus? A lot less squeaking.

Summer blades are designed to wick away water with a lightweight design that allows them to glide across your windshield. In winter, however, summer blades get held up by their lattice design, which traps snow and ice, reducing their flexibility.

Winter wipers are better equipped to handle the cold because they use synthetic rubber compounds, so they stay soft without tearing.

Wiper blades come in frame and beam styles. Booted frame blades are a common choice for winter. They’re encased in rubber boots to stop their joints from icing up.

Beam-style wiper blades are another winter wiper blade favourite. A piece of high-strength tensile steel along the length of the wiper, and tension springs within them, keep these wiper blades flexible in the cold. They apply even pressure across their length instead of at the pivot points, which conventional wiper blades do.

At highway speeds, beam blade designs use wind pressure to increase contact force via spoilers or another aerodynamic design, and prevent them lifting from the windshield. They also have a memory curve to perfectly fit your windshield.

If you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow, you should definitely have a pair of winter wiper blades. Choosing the brand and style is mainly based on personal preference. Your owner’s manual may recommend a brand.

Once you know which style of wiper blades you want, you need to know what length to get. Refer to your owner’s manual for this. You can also find this information online by looking up your vehicle model on our website (top left corner). Alternatively, measure the length of the blades you currently have as a reference for future purchases.

Experience the full benefits of your winter wiper blades by pairing them with the right washer fluid. Just like wiper blades, washer fluid is formulated to be most useful for certain types of weather.

Summer washer fluid targets the residue left on your windshield by bugs. It also has a bit of antifreeze to keep it from freezing on cool evenings.

Winter washer fluid focuses on clearing away road grease and salt. Thanks to a generous dose of antifreeze, it breaks up ice on contact instead of freezing.

All windshield washer fluids list the lowest temperature they can handle. Pick one that’s suitable for your climate. Check your washer fluid level every three months and top it up as needed.

Never use water as a replacement for washer fluid. It can freeze and potentially cause the washer fluid lines to burst.

Switch your blades before the first snowfall. Because it takes only a few minutes to install new ones, you don’t need to plan weeks in advance. Our guide explains how to change your wiper blades if you’re unfamiliar with the process.

You can also change your blades as part of your winter preparations, and inspect them when you do other winter maintenance, like washing the salt off your car.

For any questions on how to select winter wiper blades for your vehicle, visit your local NAPA Auto Parts store, and one of our friendly advisors will be happy to help you.