PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blade

While silicone windshield wipers look like traditional wipers with an external metal frame, a silicone material replaces the traditional rubber wiper blade. The silicone is often saturated with a water-repelling chemical, which treats the windshield with each pass over the glass.

The PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blade gets good reviews in this category. Many consumers at retailer AutoAnything.com are car enthusiasts looking to bypass a hulking rubber wiper. They like the sleeker look of the silicone alternatives, but note they may not be tough enough for work vehicles. "Probably a great blade for a sports car, but not heavy-duty enough for winter conditions on a work truck," comments one owner.

Only ConsumerReports.org tests silicone and rubber wipers side by side, finding that both offer similar performance when brand new. Despite costing much more than regular rubber wipers, PIAA Super Silicone wipers were not found to last longer; after six months, performance was roughly equal to that of other blades of the same age. However, a number of customers at AutoAnything.com report a different story, with several saying the PIAA blades last two years or more.

At an estimated $20 per wiper blade, the PIAA Super Silicone blades may be too expensive for many drivers, and AutoAnything.com lists price and value as its least favorite aspects of this wiper blade. Others say the extra cost is justified. "Although these wipers are relatively expensive, you get what you pay for. Very satisfied with the appearance and quality of the wipers," comments one user.

As with all wiper brands, some owners find that installing the PIAA Super Silicone wiper blades is tricky, although feedback indicates that this brand does take more time to install than others. Several users also don't like treating the windshield with a water repellent (one says it "appears and smells like Rain-X").