Windshield glass weak/soft

[Dzmitry]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

This is bizarre to me. My 1st gen BRZ had 40k when I traded it in, no pitting on the windshield.

I'm starting to wonder how some of you drive, or if you don't understand normal wear and tear.

Though I'm not disagreeing with others experiences, I'm in your boat on this one. Got over 50K on my 2018 now, with 80-90% highway driving and plenty of rock-kicking trucks on the roads... no issues so far. I always keep a proper distance from those in front of me, and I definitely avoid being behind any trucks if I can. I've heard a few loud rock hits over the years and no pits or cracks to be seen so far.

[Pat]

FYI, you may want to talk with your insurance company. I told mine that my windshield was so badly pitted that I couldn't see well driving into low-angle sunlight. They paid for a new one. Nothing out of pocket for me.
Your policy may be different, but if your windshield is badly pitted it may be worth your time to make a phone call.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by Dzmitry

Though I'm not disagreeing with others experiences, I'm in your boat on this one. Got over 50K on my 2018 now, with 80-90% highway driving and plenty of rock-kicking trucks on the roads... no issues so far. I always keep a proper distance from those in front of me, and I definitely avoid being behind any trucks if I can. I've heard a few loud rock hits over the years and no pits or cracks to be seen so far.

I think some of it may be based on where the person lives and what they use on the roads in the winter.

Those places that use lots of rock salt and sand vs the more caustic (but effective) sprays/chemicals may have more pitting. The sand and rock salt will sand-blast your glass and paint even when driving a safe/reasonable distance behind other vehicles.

When I lived in the UK, they'd put down a sand/salt combination when it snowed. After a year or two of that stuff, the softer windshields would be heavily covered in very tiny pits which killed visibility.

Around here they just lay down the salt and when you drive you can hear particles constantly hitting the glass, even at several car-lengths back.

[Pat]

This is most definitely the case. Windshield pitting is highly dependent on your environment.

[Dzmitry]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

I think some of it may be based on where the person lives and what they use on the roads in the winter.

Those places that use lots of rock salt and sand vs the more caustic (but effective) sprays/chemicals may have more pitting. The sand and rock salt will sand-blast your glass and paint even when driving a safe/reasonable distance behind other vehicles.

When I lived in the UK, they'd put down a sand/salt combination when it snowed. After a year or two of that stuff, the softer windshields would be heavily covered in very tiny pits which killed visibility.

Around here they just lay down the salt and when you drive you can hear particles constantly hitting the glass, even at several car-lengths back.

Agreed there. We have the same situation over in SE Pennsylvania here. But I can't speak much for that, because I don't take the car out so long as there is any snow coming. I do that for exactly that reason, I don't want to deal with any salt kicking up and any corrosion. Got a backup beater for that

[vindiesel]

Direct sunlight today 1660 miles on it. That is not bugs/debris…

[finch1750]

Damn. Maybe the pitting is why it's like my windshield never looks clean lol. 2013 FRS with 190k miles on it's 2nd windshield. I do mostly freeway so I'm like 4 chips in on the current one and it hasn't cracked yet in the 2ish years they have been there.

Just got the first chip in my wife MY22 and it hasn't cracked in 2 weeks despite needing to crank the defrost from near freezing outside temps.

[jetvermillion]

barely 4k miles on my car and there is a noticeable pit in one of the headlights. out of all the cars i've owned, this is the first time that's happened

[Pat]

I used to drive I-70 from Denver into the mountains at least weekly during winter months. During those years I bet I replaced my windshield on average every 18 months.