WearFactor Ratings: How Long Your Cutting Edge Will Last

January 14, 2020

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A low-priced cutting edge doesn’t save money if you have to replace it three times a season. What you’re really buying is wear life. A WearFactor rating tells you how much of it to expect before you place the order.

What is a WearFactor rating?

A WearFactor rating shows how many times longer a product lasts than a standard product of the same category. A 2x WearFactor means twice the wear life, and a 4x WearFactor means four times the wear life. Fewer blade changes mean fewer hours in the shop and more hours clearing roads.

Why the comparison matters

Each rating compares like with like. A carbide system is rated against a standard carbide edge. A steel system is rated against a standard steel blade. That way, the number tells you something useful about the choice in front of you.

Take our RoadMAXX® grader blade system, whose 2x WearFactor compares it with standard tungsten carbide insert (TCI) grader blades. Next to plain steel grader blades, it lasts 15 to 20 times longer. Both numbers are true, but only the first one is its WearFactor.

WearFactor ratings by system

Every Winter® cutting edge system carries a WearFactor rating. Here’s what each group of systems is rated against.

Carbide systems for fleets

Rated against a standard tungsten carbide insert cutting edge.

Steel systems for fleets

Rated against a standard steel blade.

Contractor systems

Rated against the factory steel edge that came on the plow.

Grader systems

Rated against standard TCI grader blades.

2xRoadMAXX®View the system

Where the ratings come from

Our analysts gather field data from across North America. They talk with contractors, fleet managers, drivers and foremen in New England, Midwest cities, Canada and the Pacific Northwest. That spread covers different weather, road types, skills and work habits. We compile what we learn and set a WearFactor rating for each product. Winter is the only company in the snow and ice industry that publishes a rating like this.

Backed by our Satisfaction Guarantee

A rating means more when someone stands behind it. Our Satisfaction Guarantee covers every product Winter makes. If you have a problem, we’ll work with you to make it right until you’re satisfied. That puts the risk on us instead of on your budget.

Using WearFactor when you buy or bid

When you compare products, look at cost per season instead of price per blade. Say an edge lasts four times as long as a standard one but costs twice as much. Over its life, you still spend half as much, and you place fewer orders and spend fewer hours changing blades.

A higher rating isn’t always the better choice, though. The right edge depends on your plow, your roads and how fast you plow. For example, BlockBuster® is built for heavy-duty routes, while Razor® may suit lighter ones.

Writing a bid? Put WearFactor in your specs, so bids compete on wear life and not just on price. Our guide to the snow plow bid process shows how to get the right people on board. Weighing a full system against single parts? See whether a cutting edge system is right for you.

Frequently asked questions

What does WearFactor mean?

It’s how many times longer a product lasts than a standard product of the same kind. A 2x WearFactor means twice the wear life.

What is each rating compared against?

A standard product of the same kind. Carbide systems are compared with a standard carbide edge. Steel systems are compared with a standard steel blade. Contractor systems are compared with the plow’s factory steel edge.

Is a higher WearFactor always better?

Not always. The right edge depends on your plow, your roads and how fast you plow. A field rep can help you choose.

What if a product doesn’t meet my needs?

Our Satisfaction Guarantee covers every product Winter makes. We’ll work with you to make it right until you’re satisfied.