Michelin's All-Season Wipers Improve Dramatically

Reviewed by Susan Frissell

If you haven't replaced your car's windshield wipers of late I urge you to do so now; and not with just any replacement wiper, but with Michelin's all-new frameless blades. I did so recently and the difference is remarkable.

Worn, torn or inefficient blades leave streaks, are noisy and can damage the windshield glass. Furthermore, worn wipers create a film that leads to an inconsistent view of the road that can limit vision or delay driver judgment. The new frameless blades from Michelin offer a variety of high-tech features, including M-Guard, a patented rubber compound, the patented EZ-Lok connector system, and a contoured shape with a built-in spoiler and 180-degree rotation capability.

Even the packaging of the new Michelin blade is high-tech, engineered to protect the wiping edge.

Introduced along with Michelin's all-weather safety and Lifestyles brand extension program, the advanced wiper blades are the latest product offered through the Michelin Lifestyle Limited company. Supporting the wiper blade launch is the availability of the blades in select Sears' stores.

The most important part of a wiper blade, says Daniela Gould, MLL's marketing manager, is the rubber and Michelin's wipers feature patented M-Guard advanced Rubber Technology.

The M-Guard Technology is a permanent part of the rubber compound rather than a temporary surface coating. It contains PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) technology to help maintain an effective wiping edge and extended blade life by reducing friction and wear. The rubber blade is molded in one piece and the rubber wiping element is held between two high tensile strength steel beams, rather than glued, for maximum durability.

Michelin's advanced frameless design eliminates framework, joints and openings used in conventional blades that can get clogged with snow and ice. The blades operate very quietly and smoothly and the built-in spoiler converts air flow over the vehicle into a downward force to help the blade maintain contact with the windshield and reduce lift and vibration.

Michelin's new blades installed effortlessly on my '99 Mazda Miata. It took me all of about 10 minutes to take off the old wipers and attach the new Michelins. The wiper blade constructed with the EZ-Lok Connector System fits over 95 percent of U.S. passenger cars and light trucks. Included are both universal and OE connectors. The symmetrical spoiler design also allows for rotation of the blades to extend blade life.

For more information and application guidelines visit www.michelinblade.com.