Does Wiper Blade Size Matter?

Your car’s windshield wipers are your first line of defense when you’re driving in nasty weather. Wiper blades come in many different sizes, which means you have countless options to consider as you shop for replacements.

What impact does wiper blade size have on your wipers’ ability to safely and effectively get the job done? Let’s take a closer look.

Wiper Blade Size Requirements

Your car’s wiper blades are designed to give the driver and front passenger a clear view out of the windshield when rain or snow is falling. The wipers accomplish this by quickly clearing precipitation off wide areas of the glass.

To a certain extent, the size of the windshield wiper blades will affect their ability to keep the glass free of precipitation. Wiper blades that are too small will leave large areas of the glass uncleared, and wiper blades that are too large may hit the top windshield trim, causing premature wear. They might also become entangled with each other, which could cause damage to the windshield blades and arms.

For these reasons, it’s essential to know the wiper blade size requirements for your particular vehicle. You can find this information in your car’s owner’s manual. If the manual isn’t available, you can also do an online search to figure out your automaker’s recommendations around blade size.

Can I Deviate From the Automaker’s Recommended Blade Size?

What if you come across a pair of blades you like that isn’t an exact match for your car based on the automaker’s recommendations?

It is possible to deviate from the automaker’s recommended blade size without compromising the safety and efficiency of your blades in some cases. However, for this to work, you need to choose blades that don’t differ too much in size from those recommended by your carmaker. It’s generally recommended that you choose blades that are no more than one inch larger or smaller than what the manufacturer recommends.

Tips for Choosing Safe Wiper Blades

Size isn’t the only thing to consider when you’re choosing wiper blades. They’ve changed a lot over the years, and some modern blades come with design elements that can improve performance.

Here are a couple more tips for choosing wiper blades:

• Consider beam blades. Traditional wiper blades are essentially straight, and they use hinges to conform to your car’s curved windshield. Beam blades are built to curve naturally, so they do a better job of hugging the windshield than traditional wiper blades do. Their unique design makes beam blades quieter and more efficient than traditional wiper blades.
• Look for a blade with a performance spoiler. A performance spoiler is a piece of rubber that spans the wiper blade. It helps the blade perform more effectively by reducing drag and increasing pressure on the windshield.

Wiper blades are a vital safety feature in rain and snow. For the best results, select blades that are sized and designed to provide reliable performance for your particular vehicle, and remember to change your blades regularly to keep them at their best.

Check out all the wipers and wiper accessories available on NAPA Online, or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on wiper blade size, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.

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