Having a pair of excellent wipers makes your car look good and ensures great safety.
As wipers improve the driver’s visibility, they help you drive safely, even under extreme weather conditions.
Regarding windshield wipers, wiper blades are integral to determining whether the wiper is good.
Even though many types of wiper blades are available on the market, people always get confused between silicone wiper blades and rubber wiper blades.
To help you with your confusion, I have elaborately compared Silicone Wiper Blades vs. Rubber.
This comparison will help you to understand their distinctive features and assist you in determining which of them you should buy.
What Are Silicone Wiper Blades?
As the name suggests, silicone wiper blades are a type of windshield wiper blades that are specially made from silicone for enhanced performance.
Constructed with a Tri-layer silicone compound, these blades significantly enhance the efficiency and durability of your vehicle’s wiper system.
These blades resist harsh weather conditions and withstand UV rays, high temperatures, extreme cold, and heavy rainfall to keep the visibility intact. You won’t face any haziness while driving when you have silicone wiper blades on.
Another fun fact about these wiper blades is that they have a smooth surface and don’t leave any streaks on your windshield.
What Are Rubber Wiper Blades?
Rubber wiper blades, as the name says, are wiper blades made from natural rubber. However, they are often coated with graphite with no protective layers behind them.
Rubber wiper blades have been in the automotive industry for a long time because of their ease of access and affordable price range.
However, as they are made from rubber, these wiper blades are sensitive to weather and UV. Extreme harsh weather conditions can decrease their performance and might even affect your windshield visibility greatly.
Silicone Wiper Blades vs. Rubber
Before discussing in detail the differences between Silicone wiper blades and rubber wiper blades, I have compared and contrasted them for your better understanding.
| Properties | Silicone Wiper Blades | Rubber Wiper Blades |
| Material | Tri-layer silicone compound | Natural rubber |
| Resistance to Weather | High | Low |
| Cold Weather Performance | High | Low |
| Durability | Extremely Durable | Not So Durable |
| Noise Level | Low | High |
| Cost | Expensive | Affordable |
What Are The Differences Between Silicone Wiper Blades and Rubber?
If you are interested in knowing more about the differences, I have talked about them in-depth below so that you get better knowledge.
Resistance to Weather
Their weather resistance differs because the silicone wiper blades and rubber blades are made from different materials.
As silicone blades are constructed with a Tri-layer silicone compound, they can withstand extreme temperatures, UV rays, and harsh weather conditions like none other.
They won’t melt or break because of the weather you are driving in. This makes the silicone wiper blades extremely suitable for all weather conditions.
However, the same isn’t true for rubber wiper blades. The rubber compounds are weather-sensitive and, therefore, can deteriorate under extreme weather conditions.
Cold Weather Performance
Wiper blades usually perform well in cold weather conditions. However, there is a great difference in cold weather performance between silicone wiper blades and rubber wiper blades.
Silicone can perform under extreme weather conditions. This means that the silicone wiper blades will be unaffected by severe cold and won’t affect your visibility even if you drive in snow.
On the other hand, as the rubber blades are made from natural rubber, they can frost during colder months and become extremely brittle. This prevents them from wiping the windshield perfectly and affects their performance greatly.
Durability
When it comes to durability, no wonder that silicone wiper blades are more durable than the others. These blades can withstand heat, cold, storms, and UV rays, so they won’t get damaged or deformed anytime soon.
But rubber wiper blades are not so durable. These blades deform or get brittle in extreme hot or cold and therefore might need frequent replacement.
Noise Level
Another significant difference between silicone wiper blades and rubber blades is their noise level.
Silicone wiper blades offer a smooth operation. This means that they will glide over the windshield without making much noise.
On the other hand, rubber wiper blades are not as smooth and might make disturbing noise, especially when dirt is on the windshield.
Cost
The cost of the silicone wiper blades and rubber wiper blades differ significantly.
Because silicone wiper blades offer better performance and durability, they are expensive. You might need to pay a higher price to buy a pair of these wiper blades.
On the contrary, rubber blades are quite affordable. You wouldn’t need to spend much money to buy a pair of these blades for your windshield.
What Benny Thinks on Silicone vs. Rubber Wiper Blades
Now that you have gone through the Silicone Wiper Blades vs. Rubber comparison and know their differences, I hope you will buy the most suitable wiper blades for your car.
However, I would suggest to pick the silicone wiper blades. This is because these blades are durable and perform better than the rubber ones.
Even though they are a bit expensive, their performance is worth your price!
