How to Choose the Right Size Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers keep your vision clear, providing a vital safety feature when driving in inclement weather. Therefore, maintenance and replacement of wiper blades are very important, whether you are a new driver or just bought a new car, it can be difficult to find the right size wiper blades. If you don’t know your wiper blade size, this article will help you find the right wiper blade size.

Why Does Wiper Blade Size Matter?

You must replace the wipers on your car with wiper blades of the same size.

When people talk about the size of windshield wipers, they usually mean the size of the wiper blades. The blade is a removable strip that attaches to the arm and makes contact with the windshield.

Windshield wiper blade dimensions are measured in millimeters or inches, the length of the blade. There is a range of wiper blades to choose from, ranging in size from 9″ to 32″ or 250mm to 813mm.

If you replace the wiper blades with smaller ones, they won’t cover the entire windshield – leaving a gap.

Use wiper blades that are too large and they will wear out faster. Any rubber overhanging the end of the wiper can become tangled or damaged.

Choosing the Right Wiper Blades

Every car has a manufacturer-recommended wiper blade size, depending on the make, model, and year. The correct size replacement blade must be selected for your specific vehicle. There are several ways to find the right wiper size for your car:

• View User Manual
• Go to any auto parts store and use their “wiper blade size detector”
• Find the correct wiper size online
• Measure the wiper blades on your current car

In some vehicles, the two blades are not the same size, and it is critical to install the correct size on the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle.

How To Measure Wiper Blades

It shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out the size of your existing wiper blades, there are a few different ways to do this.

• You can pop out the wiper and look for a marking that indicates its size – most wipers have this information printed on them.
• If you can’t find any marks, you can manually check the current wiper blade length with a tape measure.
• The type and size of wiper blades that are compatible with your car may also be listed in the vehicle manual.

Knowing When Windshield Wipers Need Replacement

Test your wipers at least quarterly and look for the following signs of wear:

• Stripes on windshield
• Wiper noise on glass
• The blade leaves marks on the glass
• The blade stuck to the glass

Before using your wiper blades in rain, snow, hail, or dust, replace them as soon as you notice signs of wear to ensure your continued safety.

Summary

If you install wiper blades longer than the recommended length, the wipers may collide with each other, damaging the wiper motor or causing damage to the wiper blades themselves. Oversized blades may also not conform to the shape of the window, leaving uncleaned areas and reducing visibility. Or the blades could hit the trim around the edge of the windshield.

Blades that are too small for the car cannot clear the entire windshield, resulting in reduced visibility. Installed wiper blades must match the make, model, and year of the vehicle.