Woman Goes To Discount Tire. Then A Worker Tells Her Something Surprising About Her Windshield Wipers: 'I Need To Know...'

A woman goes to Discount Tire to repair a flat tire, and one of the employees brings up her windshield wipers. This left the woman confused, considering she was just there for her flat tire. On top of that, the Discount Tire employee shared something wild about her windshield wipers. 

One viewer wrote, “First of all you should never pay anyone to do your wipers.”

Bri (@brisideoflife) shares what the Discount Tire employee told her about windshield wipers, and she is questioning the validity of the statement. In a TikTok with over 98,100 views as of this writing, Bri wonders if this windshield wiper claim is actually true or not. 

“I think they’re playing me,” she captions the post. 

In the TikTok, Bri posts a photo of herself sitting inside the lobby of a Discount Tire. She reveals that she was there to fix her flat tire, but the employee brings up her windshield wipers and how they need to be changed every six to eight months. 

“I’m at Discount Tire with a flat tire and I genuinely need to know if people are changing their windshield wipers every 6-8 months? That’s what the guy is saying here. Girlies lemme know,” she writes in the on-screen text. 

Now, this isn’t the first time an automotive shop has offered additional services to upcharge customers. Likely, that's why Bri is skeptical of the suggestion. So, she decides to ask TikTok for verification. 

‘I Change Mine When They Start Farting’

This post caught the attention of many viewers, including the girlies and, of course, the men of TikTok. Women viewers chimed in with their input and suggestions on when to change out. 

“It’s not a time thing… just replace them when they start streaking instead of wiping clean,” one TikTok commenter said. 

“I change mine when they start farting,” another joked. 

“As someone who is obsessed with a crystal clear windshield I only change when they start streaking too bad lmao,” one reveals. 

The men share their two cents on the situation. 

“Guy here. Change it when you see it tearing or when it's close to weather rot. Can last 5 plus years,” one writes. 

“First of all you should never pay anyone to do your wipers, it doesn’t even require tools. 2 minutes to do it yourself. Buy them off Amazon. Same thing with air filters. Just YouTube it. Literally everyone can do this. Second, I do it once a year,” another comments. 

“Change them when they stop working. They might squeak, but if they still push water out of your face, then who cares,” a third shares. 

“They get changed when they don’t work. And honestly they are usually easy to change so you can probably do it yourself,” another suggests.

Do Windshield Wipers Have A Replacement Interval?

Many car maintenance tasks will have a set interval period of service that is suggested to keep the car running smoothly. For example, oil changes are suggested to be done every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Meanwhile, tires have a shelf life for up to six years or 50,000 miles when they need to be replaced.

So when it comes to windshield wipers, it’s easy to assume the same applies here. According to Jiffy Lube, windshield wipers are changed based on wear and tear. Windshield wiper rubber will break down over time from sun exposure and oxidation. The rubber will become brittle and stiff when this occurs. 

An additional factor is the number of times the wipers are used. Repeatedly using the wipers in wet conditions will lead to natural wear and tear. 

While the general consensus is to use the windshield wipers until they are brittle or stiff, AAA reports that they can be changed every six to twelve months. This time frame will depend on the weather, climate, and overall usage.  

4 Signs It’s Time To Change Your Windshield Wipers

Knowing when to change your windshield wipers is essential to ensure you can drive safely in rain, snow, and sleet. According to Trico Products, there are four visible signs to look out for when using your windshield wipers. 

The first sign to look for is whether the windshield wipers will leave a streak on the windshield. Damage to the blade or any bends can cause the wipers to create streaks. This visible streak interferes with the driver's vision, making it more difficult to see out the windshield.

The second sign is one that you’ll hear. If any squeaking occurs, it’s time to replace. This high-pitched noise shouldn’t be present anytime when using the wiper blades. Now, this noise can take place if the windshield is dry itself, but if the noise is created when the windshield is wet, it’s time to replace it. 

The third sign is whenever the windshield wiper skips or chatters. Windshield wipers should smoothly glide across the windshield. This skipping or chattering can be caused by extreme weather, including both hot and cold conditions. 

One last sign to watch out for is splitting. The wiper blade itself will begin to come apart over time. Gradual wear and tear from weather, bugs, or bird droppings can lead to the windshield wiper splitting. 

Natural wear and tear is inevitable with windshield wipers, so if any of these signs appear, it’s best to replace the windshield wipers promptly. 

Motor1 has contacted Bri via TikTok direct message, and we have also contacted Discount Tire. This post will be updated if either party replies.