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Replacing Wiper Blades Regularly Saves Lives &
Windshields

Are you as conscientious about your windshield wipers as you
are about your car's engine? Car safety is a critical concern for
everyone.

Worn wiper blades are dangerous. Because 90% of your
driving decisions are based on a clear, unobstructed view of
the road, it's a critical safety concern that your car's wipers
provide you with the cleanest windshield possible.

Ozone, airborne contaminants, oil, sunlight and dirt all act to
weaken and reduce your wiper blades' ability to keep your
view unobstructed. And exposure to sunlight and ozone cause
the wiper blades to age, even if they're not used much.

Weather also plays a critical role in your windshield wiper
blades' deterioration. Freezing temperatures make the rubber
in your wiper blades hard and brittle, which increases their
tendency to crack or tear. Hot weather warps the rubber and
prevents the blade from wiping your windshield cleanly.
Heavy use is hard on the wipers because dust, abrasives, road
grime and bug juice wear away the cutting edge the blade
needs to wipe cleanly. Even road dirt acts like an abrasive to
wear away the flat surface necessary for a good squeegee
effect.

Rubber also deteriorates over time. As blades age, they lose
their flexibility and are less able to wipe cleanly. They may
develop a permanent set or curvature, which prevents full
contact with your windshield.

Your blades' ability to clean the glass depends on:

The slope and area of the windshield: Today's windshields are
more sloped than ever before for improved aerodynamics. But
a sleek "cab-forward" windshield with a lot of glass area
directs more wind against the wipers, which can force the
blades away from the glass at high speeds unless the wiper
system is designed to resist lift.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades have an
aerodynamic, low-profile superstructure and a heavy gauge
steel frame, which provide improved stability and virtually
eliminate blade lift-off at high speeds and in stiff winds.

The amount of spring tension on the wiper arm:

This is important to keep the wiper refill in tight contact with
the windshield and provide a superior squeegee effect.
Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades
incorporate a balance-beam design with a multipoint
suspension system to eliminate smearing and streaking in both
directions.

The number of pressure points or claws holding the blade: The
more claws a blade has, the broader the area over which the
pressure of the wiper arm is spread. More claws also provide
increased flexibility so the blade can more easily follow the
curvature of a large, sloping windshield for full side-to-side
contact.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades feature
added contact points to increase blade contact pressure at all
driving speeds. This pinned-joint design also provides superior
flexibility to maintain proper blade contact with the windshield.

The material used in the blade itself: Most wiper blades are
made of natural rubber, but some of the newer performance
blades have a composite structure that combines a soft, pliable
rubber on the squeegee surface for good wiping characteristics
with a firm rubber in the blade body for improved support and
durability.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades are
manufactured using a unique synthetic compound that
provides superior blade flip-over flexibility in hot and cold
weather extremes.

The unique blend of halogen-hardened natural rubber
compound also reduces windshield "chatter" and lengthens
blade life by reducing fatigue attributed to abrasion,
temperature extremes, UV, ozone, acid rain and road salt.
Plus, the wiping edge is precision-cut to 0.010mm
(10/1000mm) to remove even the smallest micro-droplets of
airborne moisture.

Important Things to Remember

Heed the following maintenance tips for optimum wiper blade
performance and driving visibility:

Tip #1: Replace your wiper blades every 6 months or 6,000
miles - even if you live in a "dry" place like Arizona.

Tip #2: Consider your options when replacing your windshield
wipers:

Option 1        You can replace just the refills (squeegees),
which are the rubber wiping components installed into the
vertebrae. This is your most economical option.

Option 2        You can replace the blades, which is the
complete assembly composed of the metal frame and the refill.

Although slightly more expensive, this option is faster to install
and provides you with the benefit of improved windshield
contact and, hence, wiping efficiency.
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