Silicone vs Rubber Wiper Blades
When shopping for windshield wiper blades, you’ll no doubt come across rubber and silicone options. Silicone blades are significantly more expensive than rubber ones, ranging from RM50 to over RM100 per piece, but are they worth the investment? Here’s a comparison between silicone and rubber wiper blades.
| Features | Silicone Car Wiper Blade | Rubber Car Wiper Blade |
| Material Softness | Softer and more flexible providing a smoother and quieter wiping action. | Harder, so can be noisier and skip during wiping. |
| Contouring Ability | Contours better to the curve of the windshield, making it great at wiping away water. | Beam and hybrid rubber wipers contour just as well to the windshield, though older, harder wipers will have reduced performance. |
| Hydrophobic Coating | Leaves a thin silicone coating on the windshield when used. As the coating is hydrophobic, water glides off the windshield easily when the wiper is used. | Only some rubber wipers are designed to transfer a hydrophobic coating onto the windshield. |
| Heat Resistance | More resistant to hot weather, allowing it to last longer than rubber blades. | Hardens and cracks easier when the car is parked under the sun. |
| Heavy Rain Performance | Performs better under heavy rain. | Not as effective under heavy rain. |
| Cost | Expensive – price ranges from RM50 to over RM100 per piece. | Price ranges from RM10 to over RM50 depending on the length and brand. |