I just purchased some winter blades for my wagon. The parts store looked them up, and I looked them up when I got home online, and the Trico site recommends a 21" blade. The ones on my car are shorter than this, and it looks like the normal blades called for are shorter too. Does this make sense? They look like they will be OK, except the passenger one my come very close to the edge of the window when down all the way.

 

Aren't both the passenger and drivers side supposed to be 21"?

I'm pretty sure that's what I have on my car...

 

If the application book said 21", then there was a reason - stick with what they tell you. You can also look this stuff up online (search "lookup wiper size").

If they are a little short you may lose a little wipe surface area but they should still perform. If they're too big, you'll have problems with them lifting when the tip of the blade hits the edge of the windshield. So, better to be a little short than a little long.

One other thing about winter wipers. You now have two choices: Winter Blades and Beam Blades. Winter Blades are conventional wipers with a rubber boot that prevents all the moving parts from clogging with ice and snow which prevents the blade from stiffening up. The newer technology beam blades (like trico neoform, trico tech and many others) have eliminated the metal or plastic frame structure all together which makes them excellent all season blades - including in winter.

 

yeah, I hate winter blades... wind tends to catch them and lift them off of the windshield. Bosch ICON blades (they're the "beam" type the wiper guy described) are great... I put a pair on my old Jetta (now my wife's car) and they lasted 3 years. I have a pair on my S70, and they've gone 2 years so far.... just clean them now and then. They're great in the winter- no freezing or anything.