THE BEST OF THE TEST
Read about all the wipers we tested at popularmechanics.com.BEST OVERALL
RAIN-X SILICONE ADVANTEDGEPrice: $36 / Performance: 2 wipes to
clean / Noise: 58.1 dBWhen it comes to getting what you pay for,
wiper blades are no exception. The Rain-X
Silicone AdvantEdge was the most expen-
sive wiper we tested, performing the best
and remaining the quietest. It’s one of two
blades on our list that applies a water-
repellent coating as it runs along the glass.
The AdvantEdge also features an aerofoil,
which helps the wiper maintain the same
level of contact with the windshield even
when you’re driving at high speeds. The
only demerit was the difficult installation,
due to a universal mechanism that was
much too complicated. It offers compati-
bility with different standards, but makes
fitting quite a tricky process.BEST VALUE
MICHELIN ENDURANCE XTPrice: $20 / Performance: 3 wipes to
clean / Noise: 71.1 dBDespite being the loudest wiper of the
bunch, the Endurance XT performed
exceptionally well when it came to clear-
ing away the paint, not to mention that it’s
one of the most affordable models. Ben-
efitting from Michelin’s expertise when it
comes to materials science, the Endurance
XT applies a water-resistant coating to
the glass, same as the Rain-X AdvantEdge.
Also like that wiper: The EZ-lock interface
system here takes some time to set up, but
works great and felt secure once we had all
the right pieces installed.EASIEST TO INSTALL
T R I C O M A X XPrice: $31 / Performance: 3 wipes to clean
/ Noise: 61.0 dBThe Trico Maxx was level with its
compatriots in terms of performance but
remained one of the quietest we tested,
producing a whole 10 decibels less than
the Michelin Endurance XT. However,
the clear party piece of the Trico was
how easy it was to get on the car. Rather
than requiring messing around with one
universal carrier, the Trico comes with two,
which snap in and out via a series of clips.
After fitting the correct bit of plastic, we
removed one of the spacers and the wiper
clicked in securely with no issues.74 January/February 2022
T h e
(^11) Test