Flat Wiper Blades Tested

September 2010

In the world of windscreen wipers, flat’s where it’s at! Most modern cars are designed to take the latest flat, one-piece blades, which have a sprung metal spine that presses the rubber against the screen. We tested these in Issue 1,128.

If you have an older vehicle, you can still get flat blades, but a large adaptor is required to fit them to old-style wiper arms. Do they work as well? Or are you better sticking with conventional superstructure designs when you replace your blades? We test the best of both kinds. Bosch won our test of original-fit flat blades, so will it wipe up again?

The Test:
Our 2006 model year Toyota Yaris test car caused a few problems for our wipers, as it combines a massive 60cm blade on the driver’s side with a tiny 35cm one ahead of the passenger. As always, though, wipe quality was a key part of our assessment, and we rated all our blades at motorway speeds using the screen washers. We also wanted them to be quiet, and measured noise while they swept a dry windscreen for a minute.

There were several solutions for fitting aftermarket designs to the Yaris’ wiper arms, so a comprehensive set of instructions was essential. Ease of installation was just as important, with the best products incorporating the correct adaptor, ready attached to the blade.

Price played a relatively small role; wipers are essential safety items, so we don’t think it’s worth skimping on cost. The figures quoted exclude delivery charges, and are for a pair suitable for our test Toyota. You can save a lot of money by shopping around online.

Contacts:

Astra  01952 608600  www.astraautomotive.co.uk

Autobulbs Direct  0844 884 2888  www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Champion  www.federalmogul.com

Halfords  0845 762 6625  www.halfords.com

TP  0871 918 2712  www.carparts-direct.co.uk

Wiper Blades (Valeo, Bosch)  01299 251130 www.wiperblades.co.uk