BFGoodrich Off-Road Windshield Wipers Cost $80 Per Set

For some reason or another, BFGoodrich agreed to venture into windshield wipers that aren’t even made by them. The Pylon Manufacturing Corporation is responsible for the blades featured in the photo gallery, which are developed specifically for off-road applications. There is, however, a glaring problem with them, and that is $80 for a set of two.

Pretty uncanny, don't you think? Pylon and BFGoodrich wax lyrical about SCRUB-X Technology, WeatherTread Technology, Secure-X Connector, and a heavy-duty design, and the tread pattern from the T/A KO2, but as you all know, the rubber element wears out prematurely if you wipe mud and dirt and whatnot off your windshield every weekend or so.

“Our 50-year legacy of engineering innovation was key in achieving success when we set out to create a wiper that excels in off-road and all-weather conditions,” said Pylon chief marketing officer Mike Fretwell. “We’ve set a new benchmark in the industry," whatever that may be.

I am struggling to say anything nice about this product, but I’m starting to understand why I can’t. Think about how many dollars Pylon would have saved on each set if it didn’t pay royalties to BFGoodrich to use the tire manufacturer’s name. Oh, and by the way, there’s no warranty to speak of, nothing that guarantees the durability of these wipers.

This, in turn, brings me to a relatively recent video review from Todd of Project Farm. To make a long story short, rubber and silicone wipers from multiple brands were left on top of a roof to ensure sun exposure for an entire year. The Bosch ICON came out on top of the Rain-X, PIAA, Michelin, Trico, Valeo, Auto Drive, and AERO wipers, but not by much.

Priced from $26 for a single wiper, the ICON model from Bosch proves that pricier doesn’t necessarily mean better because not even premium rubber or silicone can escape from contamination and degradation.