Why Are Wiper Blades So Expensive?


Why Are Wiper Blades So Expensive?

Wiper blades are one of the safety-critical components of a car. Their primary function is to clean the front and rear windscreen of a vehicle. Wiper blades work by helping to remove dust, oil, ice, rainwater, and many more from the surface of the windshield glass.

Wiper blades are available in two predominant types; conventional and beam. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. The beam-style wiper blades, which come with an aerodynamic feature, are the most expensive.

Not all windshield wiper blades are expensive. For instance, some conventional wiper blades sell for as low as $6 to $15. However, most beam-style wiper blades are more expensive and this is because they offer superior performance. Instead of using metal frames, these blades use spring steel, which is encased in rubber.

How much exactly should wiper blades cost? Why are windshield wipers so expensive? Is it worth buying expensive wiper blades? As you read through the rest of this article, you’ll find everything that you need to know about the burning questions above.

How Much Should Wiper Blades Cost?

Why Are Wiper Blades So Expensive?

Wiper blades are available in different types. The predominant ones are the conventional wiper blades and beam-style blades. The blades are available in different price segments, depending on a couple of factors, such as the performance of the blades and the brand behind the products.

The conventional windshield wiper blades have been around for many decades. They are designed to use a metal frame and a rubber squeegee. The metal frame comes with spring-tensioned pivot points, which help to hold the rubber blades in place. Conventional wiper blades have up to eight pressure points – this is what makes them deliver average performance over time.

On the other hand, the beam-style windshield wiper blades don’t use a metal frame. Instead, they are designed with spring steel enclosed in rubber. Furthermore, beam-style wiper blades are more aerodynamic compared to conventional blades. Apart from that, the blades deliver uniform contact points – this is why they can deliver superior performance.

Because of the design and performance of both beam wiper blades and standard/conventional wiper blades, both products are usually sold at different prices. The standard blades, due to their performance, sell at a much cheaper price than the beam-style blades.

Currently, the average cost of conventional wiper blades is between $6 to $15. As for the beam-style windshield wiper blades, they sell for as high as $50.

Why are Windshield Wiper Blades so Expensive Today?

Not all windshield wiper blades are expensive today. For instance, some of them, most especially the conventional wipers, sell for as low as $6.

The beam-style wiper blades, as earlier mentioned, are the more expensive windshield wiper blades that you’ll find out there. And of course, there are a couple of reasons why these blades are very expensive.

One of the reasons why some wipers are more expensive than others is because of the way they are designed. Unlike the inexpensive wipers (conventional types) that come with a metal frame, beam wipers are designed with spring steel that’s encased in rubber. At the initial stage of buying these blades, they will deliver the same performance.

However, as time goes on, the standard blades begin to lose contact with the windshield. This issue mostly happens when the blades are lifted frequently. Beam-style wiper blades are made of spring steel, which makes them make contact with the windshield even when lifted often.

Another factor that makes wiper blades expensive is how long they are capable of functioning. The conventional wiper blades only tend to last for a year before needing replacement. As for the beam-style wipers, most of them are designed with quality materials, which helps to withstand physical abuse in winters and prevent UV-related issues in the summer – this explains why they usually last longer.

Lastly, beam wiper blades deliver superior performance during harsh weather conditions. They help to wipe snow and rainwater from the windshield better than the standard wiper blades. As such, it’s safe to say that the high performance of beam-style products is another reason why they are more expensive.

The bottom line is that some wiper blades are more expensive than others because of a couple of reasons. First, they are made of high-quality materials. Apart from that, they deliver superior performance, especially during harsh weather conditions, and last longer than their counterpart.

Is it Worth Buying Expensive Wiper Blades?

Why Are Wiper Blades So Expensive?

Most expensive windshield wiper blades are worth all the money. Of course, there are tons of reasons why you need to invest in buying expensive and quality wiper blades. One of them is that the pricey wiper blades last longer than the cheaper ones.

Expensive wiper blades could sell for as high as $50 for pairs. With $50, you can always buy up to 5 pairs of cheaper windshield wiper blades. Unfortunately, you will most likely replace all 5 pairs of the cheap blades before replacing the expensive ones. Yes, conventional wiper blades don’t last long and this is one of the reasons why you need to start away from using them.

Another thing that makes buying beam-style wiper blades worth it is that “they can adjust to seasonal changes.” Expensive blades can prevent UV damages and withstand physical abuse during winter periods. Unfortunately, that’s unlikely for conventional or inexpensive wiper blades.

That’s not all; expensive wiper blades require a lower maintenance cost than conventional windshields. If inexpensive blades become faulty, it requires you to pay as high as $35 to $100.

That said, the bottom line is that buying expensive windshield wiper blades for your vehicle is certainly worth the money. It’ll save you the stress of having to pay your technician almost every time to have the blades replaced. Apart from that, you’ll find expensive wiper blades more effective in harsh weather conditions than the conventional types.

Gui Hadlich

Hey there! I'm Gui. To be honest, I'm not really that interested in cars. But what I'm really, really not interest in is spending lots of money fixing my car up. Thankfully, I have a father-in-law who's obsessed with cars and a brother getting a PhD in internal combustion engines, so I get to learn about fixing cars. And with Fixing Engines, I hope to help you save a lot of money and take good care of your cars.

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