The short answer is it’s not who made them, but what they’re made of.
The long answer? Read on.

Chances are you've encountered your fair share of crummy wiper blades during your driving lifetime. We all have, thanks to crappy factory sets and lacklustre dealership defaults. And yes, it's frustrating forking out for a new car only to be let down by quickly worn-out wiper blades. But the fact that you're reading this post means you're one step closer to taking back control and enjoying a smoother, more seamless journey, free from squeaks and smears.

Which has no doubt brought you to now wondering, which wiper blades are best?

Annoyingly, the options are endless.

A simple problem like worn wiper blades should have a simple solution right? Wrong. The second you even consider a DIY replacement, you're inundated with options: aero, Teflon, natural rubber, silicone, beam blade, traditional metal, conventional, flat, hybrid, euro, frameless, silicone vs rubber wiper blades…the list goes on.

We don't blame you for being tempted to drop your car with a local mechanic and be done with it. However, you can take control of your vehicle's windscreen and enjoy clear vision, allowing you to drive with confidence each and every time. In fact, you can save time and money doing it yourself by following these three simple steps.

1. Look for a beam blade frame

Generally speaking, there are three main types of wiper blade frame structures to choose from – traditional metal, hybrid and beam blade.

That being said, if you've recently treated yourself to a new set of wheels (specifically a European or Japanese car) there's a good chance it came with a beam blade or ‘aero' style as standard, which means it won't suit any other type of frame (spoiler alert: you wouldn't want any other type anyway).

But if you find yourself with the luxury of choice – and because we're not in the business of making baseless claims – we've summarised the pros and cons of each type below.

Silicone vs rubber wiper blades, a battle as old as time. Silicone wiper blades tend to be a bit of a unicorn within the automotive world – almost impossibly hard to tie down. But there's a reason silicone wiper blades are avoided by big wiper blade brands and aren't supplied by most automotive stores.

So who wins in the battle of silicone vs rubber wiper blades? Silicone wiper blades just don't stack up to high-quality premium natural rubber blades (particularly ones coated with graphite and embedded with Teflon).

When it comes to performance, even the best silicone wiper blades are known to smear and leave haze across your windscreen. And in terms of durability, a silicone wiper blade wears much faster than natural rubber blades due to silicone blades' inability to cope with fluctuating temperatures (a flaw that to us seems frankly unaustralian).

Natural rubber blades on the other hand are now a fixture on almost every new car (and on the shelves of all major automotive stores). And for good reason. They're the most durable and best-performing wiper blade option available, creating minimal streaking, squeaking or smearing, especially compared to silicone wipers. And honestly, they just do the best job, even compared to better-known silicone options like Piaa silicone wiper blades. So don't just settle for whatever the dealership or auto shop has given you in the past – always choose premium natural rubber wiper blades over silicone blades.

Lastly, don’t buy anything that doesn’t guarantee quality, safety and performance. And the empty promises of dealerships, the ‘endorsements’ of auto shops, or the insanely limited warranties offered by most brands won’t cut it. Make sure to look for blades with a solid warranty. Ideally, one that covers both fitment and performance issues (the longer the better – in fact, walk away from anything that covers you for less than a year). After all, no one wants wipers on their car that aren't guaranteed to do the job.

If you're looking for new wiper blades, the best option for your car should tick three boxes.

So there are a few things to remember. Despite the hype, silicone wiper blades don't live up to expectations and aren't suited to Australian conditions. Silicone wipers don't handle fluctuating conditions well and even the best silicone wiper will tend to wear out fast compared to organic rubber. Plus silicone rubber is known to smear and leave haze across your windscreen. So it's safe to say you're better off with rubber windshield wiper blades over silicone.

It's worth noting that not all rubber blades are made equal. To ensure you're getting maximum performance, durability and safety from your wipers, look for dual-cut blades made with premium natural rubber, embedded with Teflon and coated with graphite. With those on your windscreen, you'll be on the road to clearer, quieter strokes in no time. After all, smooth travels are what you deserve.