Tyre sealants - are they basically all the same?

[aea730]

I’m just about to convert my gravel bike to tubeless, the fulcrum wheels are tubeless ready so I just need the valves and sealant.

Looking around there is a wealth of liquids out there but presumably they all perform the same function ie coagulate in the area of the puncture. I’m am presuming there may be some considerations around a “lighter” fluid for road tyres but on an off road bike can you really bang anything in from the green slime type stuff up to the expensive milks

[troc]

You just use more in bigger tyres.
As to which to use, everyone has a favourite. I like the muc-off stuff. It smells nice

[curvature]

Stans is my favourite.

A word of advice if I may. I’ve just had a new Canondale Topstone from Evans and although the wheels are tubeless ready and supplied with the valves the tyres were not tubeless.

Lots of swearing and I eventually managed to get the tyres to hold air but the front failed 15 miles from home and when home the rear let go by shooting a jet of sealant all over my Z4 Coupe.

[JayRidesBikes]

troc said:

You just use more in bigger tyres.
As to which to use, everyone has a favourite. I like the muc-off stuff. It smells nice

I use Muc off too. I would advise to clean it off your bike ASAP if you get a puncture, as if you leave it to dry to the frame it's a bit of a pain in the arse to get off.

[aea730]

curvature said:

Stans is my favourite.

A word of advice if I may. I’ve just had a new Canondale Topstone from Evans and although the wheels are tubeless ready and supplied with the valves the tyres were not tubeless.

Lots of swearing and I eventually managed to get the tyres to hold air but the front failed 15 miles from home and when home the rear let go by shooting a jet of sealant all over my Z4 Coupe.

Good point, I will make sure of that, they are Schwalbe but can’t recall which model

[stargazer30]

I use stan’s tape, valves and sealant, don’t care much for the muc off stuff.

[GravelBen]

Some are thicker or thinner than others.

I found Stans (regular not the 'race' stuff) too thin for some (MTB) tyres, it tended to slowly ooze out of tiny holes without actually sealing them.

Muc-off is thicker with more floaties and seems to seal better.

Was talking to my local bike shop mechanic the other day, he said he's also found muc-off seals better but being so thick it doesn't always flow around to the puncture quickly enough, Stans flows more freely but doesn't seal as well. He's now trying a mixture of the two to see if that gives the best of both.

No idea if road/gravel tyres suit different sealant to bigger lower pressure MTB tyres.

[JEA1K]

I've been using Muc off for a couple of years on road and MTB but had a puncture 2 weeks ago on road bike (looks like a cut from a sharp piece of flint) and the slit wouldn't seal. Sealant was out in new tyres & wheels about 6 weeks ago. Inflated the tyre twice ... just refused to seal ... ended up putting a tube in. Been using Muc off on the MTB and have had zero issues until now.

Removed the tyre and patched inside ... have bought some Silca ultimate and put that in ... seemed to seal quicker than the Muc off but time will tell.

You may find this review useful ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4FHCg72dXQ

[President Merkin]

Old pro race team hack - throw a handful of glitter in with the sealant.

[_Hoppers]

JEA1K said:

I've been using Muc off for a couple of years on road and MTB but had a puncture 2 weeks ago on road bike (looks like a cut from a sharp piece of flint) and the slit wouldn't seal. Sealant was out in new tyres & wheels about 6 weeks ago. Inflated the tyre twice ... just refused to seal ... ended up putting a tube in. Been using Muc off on the MTB and have had zero issues until now.

Removed the tyre and patched inside ... have bought some Silca ultimate and put that in ... seemed to seal quicker than the Muc off but time will tell.

You may find this review useful ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4FHCg72dXQ

I had a puncture from a piece of flint, the Muc Off did its job althought piece of flint was embedded in the tyre. When I got home I took the flint out and patched up the tyre. Muc Off also worked for a thorn 'puncture', my mate wasnt so lucky with his tubed tyres, it took him two goes to fix it and as a result we got to the cafe after it had shut!

[curvature]

aea730 said:

Good point, I will make sure of that, they are Schwalbe but can’t recall which model

I've replaced the WTB tyres that came with the Topstone with a nice bronze wall set of Schwalbe G-One tyres from Merlin Cycles. They are currently on offer at £55 less 10% for a pair complete with 2 x Michelin inner tubes.

The Schwalbe tyres went up easily and have stayed up.

[nickfrog]

My favourite so far has been Caffelatex (I think it won a test recently) but switching to Muc Off as found it for £16.50 for a litre. That's for Mtb. I don't use dedicated valves, just normal presta off an old tube. Same result.

[river_rat]

Stans is the best for me.

Tried Muc Off and it was good at sealing, then after a random amount of miles it leaked again. Rinse and repeat several times until I got fed up and plugged it.

Never have this with Stans - it seals and that's it.

Plus Muc Off seems to make more mess when it sprays all over the frame, but maybe because it's pink!

[aea730]

curvature said:

I've replaced the WTB tyres that came with the Topstone with a nice bronze wall set of Schwalbe G-One tyres from Merlin Cycles. They are currently on offer at £55 less 10% for a pair complete with 2 x Michelin inner tubes.

The Schwalbe tyres went up easily and have stayed up.

I’ve just checked and I’ve got G1’s already on the bike

[curvature]

aea730 said:

I’ve just checked and I’ve got G1’s already on the bike

In that case I would just buy some Stans valves and fluid.

You will definitely need something other than a track pump to get the tyres up onto the bead of the rim. I use an Airshot.

[bobbo89]

President Merkin said:

Old pro race team hack - throw a handful of glitter in with the sealant.

Does this work? Logically I can see how it would but does it actually?

I've used all-sorts and TBH never really had to test them. My LBS and a few mates rave about Stans which I've used and yeah, it's good but I've also used Muc-Off which I often hear get slagged off but I've never had any issues.

One that really impressed me was Orange Seal, it sort of forms a protective casing on the inside of the tyre that should you get a puncture the remaining wet sealant clings to to plug it as fast as poss.

[President Merkin]

TBH, I've never tried it but also I've watched enough world cup pits videos to pick it up from the mechanics. I just use Stans, works for me & I've run over a thorn before, heard the tyre hissing & watched it seal before my eyes. Works for me.

[Harpoon]

I've always used Hutchinson Protect Air Max for my road bikes. It has plugged holes on several rides and I've got home without having to stop to get a pump out.

The tyre/rim combo lottery has been kind to me - I can get a Hutchinson Fusion 5 tyre to seal on my carbon rims with just my ancient Decathlon track pump.

[SamR380]

bobbo89 said:

President Merkin said:

Old pro race team hack - throw a handful of glitter in with the sealant.

Does this work? Logically I can see how it would but does it actually?

Mountain biker Steve Peat has a range of products bearing his name, including glittery sealant. I assumed it was just a gimmick but I'd be interested to hear about the theory behind it.

[bobbo89]

Yeah I use quite a bit of the Peatys range but never had a go with their new, re-engineered sealant. Will probs be the next one I try as like you say it has all sorts of fibres and platelets in it that help seal bigger holes.

If it's anything like the rest of their range it'll smell nice too!