Top 5 Best Silicone Wiper Blades
On the surface, wiper blades appear to be a fairly basic component of your car. Every vehicle leaves the assembly line with them, and they’ll all work just fine straight off the dealership lot. But after a few months of use, you may start noticing that your wiper blades aren’t performing as well as you remembered. That’s because all wiper blades will degrade over time, which means you’ll eventually be shopping for replacements.
When it becomes time to get new windshield wipers, you may want to consider upgrading to silicone blades. Not only do these blades last longer than their rubber counterparts, they perform better and leave behind a water-repellant barrier on your windshield. Read on to see our recommendations and learn more about the benefits of silicone wiper blades.
For more information on the best silicone wiper blades, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
- 1. Editor's Pick: PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blade
- 2. Best for Ice and Snow: PIAA Si-Tech Silicone Wiper Blade
- 3. SilBlade UniBlade Hybrid Silicone Wiper Blade
- 4. AVA Silicone Wiper Blades
- 5. SILICAR Silicone Wiper Blades
- Are Silicone Wiper Blades Worth It?
- What are the Different Styles of Wiper Blades?
- How Often Should I Change my Windshield Wiper Blades?
1. Editor's Pick: PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blade
PIAA originally made its mark on the automotive industry with its lighting accessories, and if you followed the import tuner scene in the late 1990s, you've likely seen its logo plastered across the side of touring cars. The company also specializes in manufacturing silicone wiper blades and you'll find two if its offerings on our list. The top pick goes to PIAA's Super Silicone Wiper Blade, featuring a traditional exo-frame design that has been enhanced with more pressure points for a smooth, clean, and streak-free wipe.
These wipers will also coat the windshield with water-repellant silicone with every wipe, leaving a similar effect you'd expect from using a water-repellant solution such as Rain-X. The result is instant water beading action on your windshield, which means better vision even if your wipers aren't doing the work.
As an added bonus, the Super Silicone wiper blades can use silicone wiper refills, so you don't have to replace your entire wiper every single time. These wiper blades are available in 12" to 22" sizes, along with 24" and 26".
Product features:
- Traditional exo-frame design
- Enhanced with more pressure points for a smooth, clean wipe
- Coats windshield with water-repellant silicone
- Uses silicone wiper refills
- Powdercoated frame
- Low profile wiper design
- Pin & hook style applications
- Available in a variety of sizes
2. Best for Ice and Snow: PIAA Si-Tech Silicone Wiper Blade
The other recommendation from PIAA is the company's Si-Tech Silicone Wiper Blade. Available in 16" to 22" sizes, as well as 24" and 26", these wiper blades use similar technology as the Super Silicone except they sport an aerodynamic frameless design. This makes them more ideal for colder areas, since the frameless blade helps prevent buildup of snow and ice.
The low-profile, flat wiper blade contours to your windshield for even wiping. Like the Super Silicone blade, the Si-Tech will also leave behind a water-repellant silicone barrier with every wipe, helping reduce surface tension.
Product features:
- Aerodynamic frameless design
- Prevents snow and ice buildup
- Ideal for areas with cold temperatures
- Leaves behind a water-repellant silicone barrier
- Available in a variety of sizes
3. SilBlade UniBlade Hybrid Silicone Wiper Blade
SilBlade claims its UniBlade lasts years, not months, with its patented silicone rubber construction with graphite and PTFE. These wiper blades have a hybrid frame with an aerodynamic shape to enhance contact with your windshield at higher speeds. The silicone formulation will leave behind a hydrophobic coating on your windshield, which forms within 90 days from the first wipe. The patented formula is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and is unaffected by UV or other road contaminants.
SilBlade includes a pre-installed adapter with these wiper blades that fits the vast majority of vehicles. Additional adapters are also included if the pre-installed unit doesn't work.
Product features:
- Company claims these blades last years, not months
- Patented silicone rubber construction with graphite and PTFE
- Hybrid frame design
- Leaves behind a hydrophobic coating
- Includes adapters for easy installation
4. AVA Silicone Wiper Blades
Our previous recommendations from PIAA and SilBlade are sold as single units, while AVA's Silicone Wiper Blades are sold in pairs. Available in a variety of sizes, these wiper blades will deliver a quiet, clear, chatter-free, and streak-free wipe. These are frameless windshield wipers, which means their design protects against snow and ice buildup. The dual-tensioned spring distributes uniform downforce, ensuring these blades have maximum contact with your windshield. Like other silicone wiper blades, these will leave behind a water-repellant barrier on your windshield.
One important note that's worth mentioning, these blades only guarantee fitment on J-hook wiper arms only, so keep that in mind if your vehicle doesn't have J-hook wiper arms.
Product features:
- Frameless design prevents snow and ice buildup
- Dual-tensioned spring distributes uniform downforce
- Leaves behind a water-repellant barrier
- Sold in pairs
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Fitment guarantee only on J-hook wiper arms
5. SILICAR Silicone Wiper Blades
Another option for silicone wiper blades that are sold in pairs comes from SILICAR. Available in a variety of sizes, these are beam (frameless) wiper blades with an aerodynamic design to reduce wind-related drag, noise, and stress. SILICAR's blades will fit U- and J-hook wiper arms, which should cover the vast majority of vehicles.
Again, like all of our other recommendations, these silicone wiper blades will leave behind a water-repellant barrier on your windshield that lasts for months. The company says these blades will stand up to temperatures ranging from -80°C to 200°C, which is consistent with nearly all silicone wiper blades. SILICAR does provide a 6-month warranty.
Product features:
- Sold in pairs
- Beam wiper blades
- Fits U- and J-hook wiper arms
- Leaves behind a water-repellant barrier
- Withstands extreme temperatures
- Available in a variety of sizes
- 6-month warranty
Are Silicone Wiper Blades Worth It?
If you've been researching silicone wiper blades, you've likely noticed that many of these manufacturers make bold claims about the performance advantages of silicone wiper blades. We don't blame you if you're feeling a little skeptical and wondering, is it all marketing jargon or do they really perform better? The short answer is yes they do, but that's also dependent on how often it rains in your area and just how frequently you're having to use your windshield wipers.
If you live in Southern California, for example, you likely might not even notice the performance difference compared to a quality pair of traditional wiper blades. But if you're looking to survive a typical summer in Florida, silicone wiper blades will last longer and perform better.
As a material, silicone is more resilient to heat, cold, and UV rays, compared to rubber. That contributes to the claims that silicone wiper blades last longer, helping you save money over time. The material is also more friendly on windshields, since it's softer. There is also the benefit of a water-repellant barrier that is left behind by the silicone, although you'll likely get better performance from actual solutions such as Rain-X. Still, it's a feature that silicone wiper blades offer that rubber blades do not.
Lastly, and it may not matter to everybody, silicone wiper blades are more friendly to the environment compared to rubber windshield wipers. Silicone blades are manufactured without petroleum and are biodegradable.
What are the Different Styles of Wiper Blades?
You'll notice that there are several different types of wiper blades covered by our recommendations. Traditional blades are the most common and are also referred to as bracket-type wipers. While popular, these are vulnerable to snow and ice. Hybrid blades are similar to traditional blades, but they add an outer shell to improve aerodynamics and help keep snow and ice off the blades. Lastly, there are frameless or beam wipers that use a one-piece design, conforming to your windshield without having to use any hinges. Frameless or beam wipers are typically more durable and are great performers in all-season weather, including snow and ice.
How Often Should I Change my Windshield Wiper Blades?
Even if you don't often use your windshield wipers, you'll want to replace them every 6 months. Periodically inspect your wipers by lifting the arm off your windshield and running your finger along the rubber edge. If your inspection finds that any pieces of the blade is rigid or chipped, or you're experiencing streaking while using them, you'll likely want to replace them. If their physical condition seems fine but they're not performing well, try cleaning them using windshield washer fluid or glass cleaner. Simply use a damp rag and wipe off any debris on the blade and the section of the windshield where the blades sit.
If you do choose to replace your wipers, you'll want to replace them as a pair. If only one blade is worn out, it likely means the other blade isn't far behind. Just remember, not all wiper blades are sold in pairs, so make sure you're getting the right size for each side when you're purchasing them as a set.
Don't forget about your rear windshield wiper too! Even though those blades aren't used as often as your front windshield wipers, you'll want to make sure they're in good condition when they're needed.
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Photo credit: Ensuper / Shutterstock.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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