It really depends on the conditions you drive in, also where you park your car and what you ask your wipers to do. For example my car is mostly highway driving (25k/year), but sits in my driveway with no trees around. Nothing fall onto the windshield all year so I never have to use the wipers to clean it off. I do have to replace mine every 6 months or so, but I figure thats not bad for 12K miles. However my Girlfriend parks under an oak tree and all spring, summer & fall her car gets covered in pitch, bird droppings and such. She has to use her wipers and washer fluid every day to get that crap off when she leaves for work. As a result I replace her wipers every 3 months.

One trick I have learned is cleaning them with and alcohol wipe. You would be surprised how much better they work when they are cleaned every once and a while.

 

I leave my ICONs on every year for a year or more and they work great. I just automatically change them going into winter each year. I think you'll find them a good blade.

 

I'm curious about the life span of the aftermarket blades as well. I put the ICONs on and they look and work well.

These are replacements for the originals that were on the car for 3 years. It's a daily driver that has never been in the garage, but I have a short commute to work, car only has 20k miles on it.

 

I haven't had any problems with ICONs. Benn using them since they were introduced... Just like posted above, I replace them before each winter. Most blades are only designed to last a year.

 

Spammer

 

Wow. Dodge, Ford, Buick parts. You get around.

 

Just buy less expensive blades every 1-2 years. The frameless blades are a gimmick.

 

I have the rain-x ones this year. I put up with the bosch blades for about a year. No more. The rain-x blade is far superior.

Stil wish I could get the factory blades.... Ah well. these will have to do.

 

I had the Rain X blades they lasted for about two + years. Never had a problem, I switched to the Bosch Icons few months ago. So far I i think they are quieter than the Rain X and perform a little better. If they last as long I'll probably buy another set.

 

edit: I didn't use the newer Rain X latitudes they were the regular frame ones.

 

Mine are still working great, very happy with them. But it's only been 10 months, we'll see how long they last.
Factory parts I replaced were probably still ok at 3yrs old.

 

I realize this is an old thread, but still relevant.

My wife and I bought new blades for our cars at the same time. She got Rain-X, I got the Bosch Icons. I drive twice as much as she does, I put on 300 miles a week. We both daily drive our cars in northern Illinois and we don't have a garage.

Our opinions: She doesn't like the Rain-X blades, they don't work as well in snow as the Bosch Icons. I really like the Icons for all driving conditions. Caveats: the Rain-X blades are definitely outlasting the Bosch Icons. Mine gave up the ghost two months ago and are badly streaking in any kind of rain. But I definitely plan on buying new Icons soon.

I like the Icons more than the factory blades. Rain they're roughly the same. Snow: day and night difference.

My $0.02.

 

Like I said, I like the Icons. I recently tried the Valeo blades from Tire Rack. They have a buy one get one free deal. So far I like them very much. Valeo blades are similiar in design to the Icons.

 

---- me too i like the icons more than the factory blade. and i think it is more cheaper. just dont use it on snow to prevent hustles.

 

You spammers really like these threads uh? Besides how do you change your name like that?

 

I had the Michelin Branded Frameless from Wal mart on the wife's Mazda 6 because they were the cheapest available and they didn't work well. Just bought Icons for the 07 GT that still has the original blades. Used to never drive it in the rain if I could avoid it but the Bronco is still in WV and I have driven the mustang in the rain for the past year and blades are showing their age. No parts stores carry refills anymore?

 

I've been using the Rain X Latitude blades on 3 vehicles, since they were first announced and came on the market. Love them and won't use anything else. I've recommended them to friends and family and have gotten the same response from everyone that put them on. Yes, they are a more expensive...but they work so well and give greater visibility for added safety, that they are well worth it to me.

 

No problems with Icon blades. However i much prefer Rain-x latitudes or repels. I have found these to be FAR superior in streak free wiping, longevity amd dirability, and high speed performance

 

 

Same here 5 years and running a new pair every year!