Are Silicone or Rubber Wiper Blades Better?

When it comes to wiper blades, you’re looking for optimum performance, reliability and durability with every change – so does it make a difference if your new windscreen wipers have silicone material or rubber?

For all the advances in automotive technology over the decades, it is remarkable to think that the humble wiper blade one of the oldest innovations still in use today.

Not only that, but the basic functionality behind the wiper blade action has also changed extraordinarily little since the technology’s first-known use some 100 years ago.

Perhaps the biggest advances in wiper blade technology have therefore come from the blade itself and the materials used to ensure you get a clean, consistent wipe for longer.

As such, you may notice that some brands tout the use of silicone ceramic in lieu of rubber for the blade, but how much of a difference does this make?

Standard rubber has been the, well, standard on wiper blades for decades now. Effective, flexible and plentiful, rubber has therefore endured for a long time.

However, some wiper blade manufacturers have experimented with alternative materials, namely silicone, which has many of the positive properties of rubber but negates some of trade-offs.

For one, silicone blades can better withstand extreme temperatures at both ends of the scale, meaning they work just as effectively in searing hot conditions as they do in sub-zero freezing ones.

Rubber Wiper Blades

It’s no coincidence that rubber wiper blades have remained the most common material of use for so long. 

Indeed, there is no conspiracy to prop up the rubber industry, the material remains hugely effective today as it did decades ago – a testament to just how well the technology was developed in the early days, even when there were barely any cars on the road.

However, while rubber is durable to an extent, due to its location on the outside of a car – exposing it to the elements – it is naturally affected by climatic conditions.

This can include sunlight and ozone, which can cause the rubber to dry, harden and therefore crack. Once a crack appears in a rubber blade, it will likely worsen over time and the performance compromised, so will need replacing sooner.

Nevertheless, rubber remains an excellent option for wiper blades, particularly at the value end of the spectrum, so if your vehicle is not likely to be exposed to the elements so much – because it is located in a garage or a covered car park – then it is more than sufficient.

Silicone Wiper Blades

Silicone wiper blades offer many of the properties of rubber but helps to negate some of those drawbacks by withstanding more extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

Silicone also has a natural water-repelling property that helps the water to bead on the windscreen and allows the blade to remove it quicker than rubber wiper blades.

Overall, silicone wiper blades will likely out-last rubber ones, though this is also dependent on the frequency of use and the conditions they are exposed to.

Therefore, the change intervals for silicone blades is generally larger than rubber ones, but it is reassuring to know that both deliver excellent performance in optimum condition and choosing between them will ultimately come down to extraneous factors such as the weather where you live, where your vehicle is kept and price.

How to Change Your Wiper Blades

Changing your wiper blades is a quick and cost-effective way towards safer driving.

Better still, fitting wiper blades is simple and stress-free. Don't be fooled by brands that suggest you need a trained mechanic to replace your wiper blades, Wiperblades.co.uk has everything you need to complete the job in seconds.

You can use easy-to-follow instructions on the box to guide you every step of the way, or you can scan the QR code to go straight to a video tutorial showing exactly what you need to do. It's that simple. 

How Do I Know Which Wiper Blades to Buy?

It couldn’t be simpler to find the perfect wiper blades for your vehicle. 

Say goodbye to scratching your head in the shops as you search shelves for complex codes on boxes, just head to Wiperblades.co.uk, input your registration plate details and get the exact blades you need for your vehicle.

We’ll offer up a selection of different blades from various brands, including Bosch, Michelin and Lucas, all at competitive prices, so you can make your choice, safe in the knowledge that when they arrive, they are guaranteed to fit.

Why go to the effort of heading to a store and pondering if you made the right choice, when you can get it all done with no mistake in the comfort of your home in minutes?