TYRE SEALANT

[GRIFFONMARK]

Years ago I went to a trade motorshow where a guy invited people to stick a screwdriver in a tyre filled with 'special' sealant and low and behold the tyre didn't leak.

I have a very slight leak (10psi over a few weeks)on a split rim which still leaks after a new tyre has been fitted, and I'm wondering whether such sealant might help. Has anyone any experience of using this stuff?

Regards

Mark

[grahamw48]

I haven't had a TVR yet (and other alloy-shod cars) which didn't leak a little. One of the OZ splits on my Wedge loses a couple of pounds a week.
It's probably not a bad thing if it makes you check your pressures before every trip.

I would hesitate before filling a wheel with gunge though, unless in an emergency...tyre fitters probably won't appreciate it, and you need them to be kind to those split rims.

[Hoover.]

GRIFFONMARK said:

Years ago I went to a trade motorshow where a guy invited people to stick a screwdriver in a tyre filled with 'special' sealant and low and behold the tyre didn't leak.

I have a very slight leak (10psi over a few weeks)on a split rim which still leaks after a new tyre has been fitted, and I'm wondering whether such sealant might help. Has anyone any experience of using this stuff?

Regards

Mark

Check to see if the valve is seated properly on the rim.... had a similar problem with my split rims which turned out to be this.

[Derek Smith]

The stuff of a few years ago would unbalance a tyre. A friend tried the stuff in order to use the spare wheel housing for luggage on a long trip and found that, especialy if not used for a while, the tyres used to vibrate, and at very low speed although you could drive through it. But it wasn't comfortable. In the end he replaced all his tyres early.

Thatr said, he didn't have any punctures but still had to top up the tyres every now and again.

The material might well have improved no end of course. And then again . . .

[M&S]

Had same thing on my wolfies, they were leaking at the rims. I got the tyres taken off, dressed the inside of the rims then painted with an even coat of smooth hammerite, got tyres put back on and never dropped any pressure since.
Was advised against using a sealant - only in emergencies was told.

[GRIFFONMARK]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll check the valve and then whip off the tyre.

[hoach]

I convert cars to LPG

we often ditch the spare tyre and fit a tank in its place and use 'slime' to protect against punctures.

I think it is great but how does anyone prove it works?

you cant tell!

Notes:
average time between punctures is 80,000 miles so several manufacturers have ditched the spare (e.g. Mercedes) on some models to save money.

Slime is water soluble so tyre changing is not a problem.

Don't be confused with the frst generation tyre sealant (called Finilac in the seventies). This stuff was grey, sticky and NOT water soluble, it would upset a fitter at a tyre centre!!

Finilac was used to balance a wheel back then, esp. motor bikes.

Modern stuff is a compound with tiny rubberery particles that fill any hole, the trick being particles of many different sizes from very tiny to just tiny.

Try 'Slime' in any search.

It stops punctures but not slow couple-of-days deflations so is not realy gonna help you, I would look at the normal jonts in the wheel/tyre assembly:

split wheel joints
valve
rim