Which WInter Wiper Blades for WI / MI Winter Work Assignment

Will be spending the end of Jam thru early March in WI / MI for an extended work trip.

Recommendations for Winter Wiper Blades

Google Search Shows Hella / Peak  / ANCO and etc. have a dedicated winter blade.

It has been 25 years since we spent any time  in snow country and will appreciate  input.

2018 RAV4 AWD with the appropriate wheels and tires should handle the "rubber meeting the snow" part.

Will flush and refill all fluids with winter appropriate

Under carriage will be power washed and undercoated prior to getting to the salt usage country.

Regards all

30-year veteran of MI winter here. I don't use winter blades. I would recommend:

1. Raise your wipers when the car is parked, so they don't get frozen to the glass.

2. Scrape the windshield with a scraper instead of trying to do it with your wipers.

as far as wipers icing up while driving, I've never had that happen even when driving in the UP during snowstorms, so I can't speak to that.

Yeah regular good-quality wiper blades tend to work well, you don't need anything too special just for winter.

Don't skimp on undercoating, and get the underbody washed when you get back too. The only winning move against road salt is not to play.

Thanks for the update

We  do both 1 & 2 here in NC

Definitely will  get the undercarriage power washed when we return,

Thanks Again

WASHER FLUID!  Keep an extra jug with you.  Salted roads create a salted wet mixture.  That saltwater gets onto your windshield and the salt dries to the windshield.  This creates a "bathroom glass affect" that you can not see through.  The correct method when this happens is to the use the windshield washer function  to re-wet that dried salt and wash it away.  I'm not kidding when I say being out of washer fluid can be a life/death situation.  

A common error is to leave all the hot air of the HVAC directed to the windshield.  However, too much of this hot air directed to the windshield then dries the salt to the windshield all that much faster.  Once you have the car up to operating temp, set the dial to a combination of heat to your feet and heat to the windshield.  Then dial the temp knob back so that it is not full red, say 75% red, and your experience will be much better.

This similar affect happens to your headlamps.  They get this dried salt residue also and it deminishes their brightness.  Volvo, Audi and some others have headlamp washers to alleviate this.  If you do not, when you are the gas station, they will likely have a squeegee that looks like it is there for cleaning your windshield.  I'd avoid using it on your windshield but be sure to use it to clean your headlamps and possibly tail lamps too if you want to be seen.      

Thanks John, GB & AC

Memories of times gone past in the Mid West Snow Belt are slowly coming back.

Not all of them are good, however,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Hopefully modern winter/snow tires on all 4 corners will do away with installing chains in a snow downpour in the middle of I77 in Stark County Ohio

We had been snowmobileing in  southern Ohio and were on the way back to Canton, and it was a literal white Out

I haven't used dedicated winter blades in 20+ years. IMO, they are all marketing. I use Bosch Icons exclusively.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

1. Raise your wipers when the car is parked, so they don't get frozen to the glass.

Is there truth to the statement below?

somebody told me - with older cars the springs get stretched out when you lift them up like this then they have less force to pull the blades onto the windshield then allowing more streaks and smears......

Where are those mythbuster guys?

In reply to Datsun240ZGuy :

I mean, if you park the car in a barn for a decade like that, maybe, but I wouldn't worry about doing it for a few weeks of winter.

Anything but RainX wiper blades, bought a pair and they both fell apart in short order (blades were fine, it was everything else).

RainX washer fluid on the other hand I really like. It's not as good as a full RainX treatment but it does help clear water/slush off the windshield. The thing I really like with it though is ice/frost/snow seems to scrape off easier with it in the morning.

Rainx wipers are trash. Bosch icons are all I use.

+1 for Bosch icon blades and lots of the orange RainX fluid.

Also throw a spray bottle of the yellow Prestone deicer fluid in the car. For those fun March ice storms it gets you usable windows much quicker than just scraping and waiting for the car to warm up.

Also, scope creep, more work and $$, but if possible try to get a wax or ceramic coat done as well as fluid film underneath before coming up north to keep the brine salt out of the car.  Ive done all our cars with Avalon King including windows, and it helps the snow slide off the car.

Thanks for all the input

I was all set to say exactly what the distinguished Mr. Welsh said about washer fluid. Always have at least one spare jug on board. Depending on the forecast, you may want to check the label to see whether its claimed effectiveness goes down to –40° or just –35° and buy "the good stuff" if you think you might need it. Fill up the fluid every time you get gas.

When you're squeegieing your headlights, do your taillights too – and don't forget your third brake light.

Have a couple of good snow brushes in the car and, for karma, a couple of cheap wooden ones, so you can give one to somebody in trouble.

If you have to brush snow off your car, do the roof too. Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the feeling you get when you brake in traffic and a roof's worth of semi-melted precipitation (that used to be frozen to your roof before the car got nice and warm inside) slides down and covers your entire windshield. Pro tip: your wipers won't be any help whatsoever in this scenario, no matter what blades you get.

Um... have a great trip? I hope you end up needing none of this advice!

Stealthtercel said:

If you have to brush snow off your car, do the roof too. Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the feeling you get when you brake in traffic and a roof's worth of semi-melted precipitation (that used to be frozen to your roof before the car got nice and warm inside) slides down and covers your entire windshield. Pro tip: your wipers won't be any help whatsoever in this scenario, no matter what blades you get.

So much this

FWIW, Consumer Reports used to review wiper blades but eventually they just posted a message that said "they're all about as good as each other and all need to be replaced after six months." 

Get the rainX washer fluid good down to -40°F and just good wipers. Dont forget some other winter supplies.

I don't use winter blades in PA.  I find that they don't work as well as rain wipers when it's not icy or snowing.

I pony up for good Bosch Icon blades once a year and they work very well.

Appreciate all the input

Happy Holidays to everyone