(NAPSI)—From the hottest to coldest and wettest to driest, extreme weather takes a toll on a vehicle, including wiper blades. Rain and snowfall mean wipers should be checked for wear from use, while dry and hot weather can also damage wiper blades. Extreme heat or extended periods of nonuse can cause the blade rubber to take a set or curve in one direction, causing poor wiping performance and limited visibility through the windshield.
To prepare your car for nasty weather, inspecting wiper blades should be part of your seasonal safety check. Properly maintained wiper blades are an easy, low-cost way to ensure the clearest sight line in inclement weather and improve driving safety.
An estimated 90 percent of a motorist’s driving decisions are based on how well he or she sees the road, yet many drivers overlook replacing worn wiper blades. Studies show that driver vision is a factor in more than 40 percent of all vehicle crashes.“I can’t imagine anything being more important than the ability of the driver to see clearly through the windshield,” says Alexia Hayes, a wiper blade technical engineer and mother of two young children. Hayes suggests checking blades periodically and replacing them about every six months.
“Wiper blades are one of the most overlooked pieces of safety equipment,” says Hayes. “But you won’t find a faster or lower-cost way to make yourself and your family safer than by changing them.”
Better Blades
Worn, torn or inefficient blades leave streaks, a film and an inconsistent view of the road that can limit vision or delay driver judgment. New blades can provide a better and longer-lasting clear view of the road.
One option is the Michelin Stealth hybrid technology wiper blade, with a patent-pending, spring-loaded design for superior contact with the windshield and improved wiping performance in all weather conditions.
For more information, visit www.michelinstealth.com.
As you’ve seen from our coverage, Subaru and Toyota chose the 2011 Geneva show to update the world on the progress of their jointly developed front-engine, rear-drive sports coupe. The interesting bit is how differently these two companies are approaching the reveal of this long-anticipated vehicle.
The passion is back, eh? Indeed, buried all the way back on the last three pages of Toyota’s 18-page Geneva press kit. Not exactly the ringing endorsement hachi-roku and Celica-Supra fans the world over were waiting for.
Subaru, on the other hand, proudly showed off its ‘Boxer Sports Car Architecture’ see through model, displaying some of its vital guts – including the low mounted boxer engine, front MacPherson strut and rear control-arm suspension. The message was as clear as the concept’s body panels: Styling be damned – Subaru, not Toyota, is taking the lead on important things like the engine and suspension.