Choosing

Choosing: what you need for a good view

Visibility purchases are usually small, but they are often made in a hurry, at the petrol station till or in the first snowfall. So that bright packaging does not make the choice for you, it helps to know your car's specifications in advance and to understand exactly what you are buying.

The right wiper blade is chosen from your car's manual, not from the promises on the box.

— Editor's note

We do not name brands, shops or garages and we do not compare prices. The reference points are always the same: the specifications in the owner's manual, the season and the conditions you drive in.

What to choose

Six purchases and decisions that directly affect how well you see the road.

Wiper blades: size and fitting

Start with the length and fitting type given in the manual. A blade that is too long can catch on the seal or the other blade, and the wrong fitting can work loose at speed.

Care

Seasonal washer fluid

In winter, go by the temperature down to which the fluid will not freeze, with a margin below the coldest weather where you live. In summer, choose a fluid that clears insects and dust well.

Problems

Ice scraper and snow brush

A scraper with a smooth plastic edge is kinder to the glass than whatever happens to be at hand. A long-handled brush helps you clear the roof so snow does not slide onto the windscreen when you brake.

Safety

Glass cloths

Keep a clean, soft, lint-free cloth in the car. A separate cloth for the inside of the glass does not pick up road grime and will not smear it around.

Misting up (in Russian)

Tint film: rules first

If you want darker windows, start with the light transmission requirements. For the windscreen and front door windows the margin is small, and it is best checked with a meter before fitting.

Window tint (in Russian)

Glass repair: who and what to ask

Look for a workshop that will inspect the damage before starting and tell you honestly whether a repair makes sense. Ask how the spot will look afterwards and what happens if the crack spreads.

Windscreen chips (in Russian)

Questions to ask before a windscreen replacement

Does the proposed glass match your car in size, shape and features, such as a rain sensor, camera or heating, if fitted?
Does the glass carry markings confirming that it meets the requirements for vehicle glazing?
How will the aperture be prepared, what will the glass be bonded with, and how long must the car stay off the road after fitting?
Will the cameras or sensors that look through the windscreen need recalibrating after the replacement?
What does the workmanship guarantee cover, and what happens if noise, a leak or a crack at the edge appears?
Can you see the glass before it is fitted and check that it has no defects or scratches?

Care
Seasonal care for glass, wiper blades, washer fluid, mirrors and headlights, plus replacing blades as the manual describes.
Reviews
Reviews of approaches to glass care and visibility, chip repair compared with windscreen replacement, and an article catalogue.
Window tint (in Russian)
Archived address: what Russian/EAEU rules require of front-glass light transmission and how to get window tint right.

Sources

TR CU 018/2011 (Customs Union technical regulation, Russia/EAEU)
Car owner's manuals (general provisions)

Regulatory requirements are described as they stood on the date each page was prepared. The cited rules are Russian and EAEU rules; other countries set their own tint limits and roadworthiness rules, and rules change from time to time. Glass, wiper and demisting set-ups also differ from car to car, so check the current local regulations and your own car's owner's manual.