In a country like the United States, where the weather is often very extreme, good and functional windshield wipers are a must. It’s a must to make sure your wiper blades are equipped to handle whatever Mother Nature and the road conditions throw at them.
Your windshield protects you from more than just the weather. Can you count how many bugs have flown into your path? Or how many birds have considered your windshield the perfect place to leave their droppings? When we spray the wiper over the surface and the wipers just smear the mess, it’s annoying.
But worn wiper blades are more than just a nuisance; they’re an absolute hazard.
They can leave streaks, smudges, dirty spots and uncleaned areas that separate the wipers from the windshield surface. This significantly affects visibility and your ability to clearly see the road, pedestrians and other obstacles along your route.
Imagine driving down a busy road in the dark, with all the headlights of oncoming vehicles bouncing off a dirty or smudged windshield. It makes night driving even more challenging.
Rain, sleet and snow present equally dangerous situations. If your windshield wipers can’t clear the windshield effectively, you’re driving (often at high speeds) without sufficient clarity.
How do you know when you need to replace wiper blades?
Wiper blades are one of the simplest components you can find on a vehicle; however, we know they work hard to keep us safe. They are made of thin rubber or halogen-hardened rubber and are designed to flex as they move across the windshield. This allows them to pull water, snow, slush, dirt and sand to the side, allowing you to see where you’re going.
As the blade rubber breaks down, it no longer flexes as effectively to conform to the shape of the windshield. And this can leave you in a bind when you need to clean your glass on a trip or encounter inclement weather.
When your wiper blades are overdue (or past due) for a change, you will notice:
- Dirty spots and streaks.
- Squeaking sounds.
- A skipping motion.
- Very reduced visibility.
- In extreme cases, worn blades can also cause permanent scratches on the windshield.
- You should also watch out for:
- Torn or detached rubber on the blade.
- Cracks or tears
- Separated arms on the wiper itself.
- Metal corrosion on wiper blade
- Prevent problems before they start.
- Let affinitytire take a job off your to-do list, when you need it just give us a call.
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