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How Wiper Blades Work

Wiper blades are like squeegees that clear rain, snow, dust and debris from the windshield. They are part of the motorized system on a vehicle that powers a pair of hinged, spring-loaded arms to which rubber blades are attached. The arms pivot back and forth in an arc, sweeping the wiper blades across the glass surface of the windshield with each stroke.
 

Wiper Systems

Although there are single arm wipers for certain vehicles, most cars and trucks use a tandem system that has two blades that move in the same direction to clear more of the windshield on the driver’s side. Some vehicles use an opposed system that also uses two blades, except they move in the opposite direction from each other.

The Traditional Wiper Blade

The traditional wiper blade can consist of up to 24 parts that include stamped metal bridges hinged together by rivets and plastic bushings to form a “blade frame” or “superstructure”. The frame distributes the force of the spring in the wiper arm to two long metal strips (flexors) that backs up the rubber wiping element at up to eight points (claws). For driving in freezing conditions, traditional winter blades are available with a thin rubber covering to keep ice and snow from clogging the blade frame.
Vehicle owners can choose from a number of Michelin® traditional style blades, all with the features and quality to provide exceptional long lasting performance.