If anyone has any experience with any brands of tire sealant I'd be interested to know if they work well or not. I have a slow tire leak and am wondering if it is worth trying a sealant.
2007-01-21 05:07:39 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
As a former bicycle mechanic who dealt with all kinds of tire sealants and a motorcyclist with over 25 years experience, here is my two bits worth.
First, sealants such as Slime, True Goo, etc. and even Fix-a Flat will only work on a leak or hole on the tread side of the tire. This is because the sealant is forced to the outside of tire by centrifugal force. Any leak between the rim and tire won't seal with liquid sealer.
Fwiw, it''s better to use a liquid sealant and then air up with compressed air than using Fix-A-Flat. The chemicals used for propellant will degrade your tires from the inside out. It even tells you on a FixA Flat can to flatten and air up your tire with air on the can. Fix-A-Flat should be a very last resort to fixing and airing up a tire.
Next, does the tire use a tube or is it tubeless?
Tubeless tires you do not want to use any plugs or patches except for an emergency and then get it fixed asap and replace the tire if punctured. I've had to replace a tire that was two months old because something went through it, flats at 70mph are not much fun.
If you have a slow leak after getting new tires installed sometimes there is rubber built up on the sealing surface of the rim that allows a slow leak. The fix for this is to pull the tire, clean the rim and reinstall. Also check valve stems.
If you are using a tube...liquid sealers will work (from my experience Slime works the best) but they are meant to slow leaks, not be a permament fix. The tube should be removed and patched or replaced.
Be advised that relying on sealants to keep the air in your tires is a band-aid and not the safest way to ride.
Also, most shops don't like changing tires that are full of sealant and will sometimes charge extra for the mess.
2007-01-21 08:05:23 · answer #1 · answered by Dsfa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Liquid Tube Tire Sealant
2016-11-15 03:42:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since this question appears in the motorcycle section, I assume you're asking about using a sealant in a tire for a bike. My experience and answer says NO ! Sealants are notorious for changing the balance of a tire and this is NOT what you want on a 2 wheeler.
2007-01-21 11:01:16 · answer #3 · answered by graciouswolfe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tire Goo
2016-12-26 08:59:58 · answer #4 · answered by anteby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weight of a tire will not make a difference in your gas mileage. It should weigh under 20 lbs. The inflating sealer will work if you get a flat though and be able to take you back to your house if you do want to remove it. Easiest way to get better mileage is to check the air pressure in your tires and make sure the car is aligned (besides normal maintenance).
2016-05-24 05:58:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have heard good things about the green slime stuff. to be put in the tire as a defense against a puncture you might get out on the road mainly.
and yes it is a quick fix just to get you home. dont ride on a comprimised tire
i have never had a tire pop on a bike and i dont want to.
im guessing its not a real fun experience. dont take a chance on it. yeah a tire is expensive, but still a lot cheaper then a wreck
2007-01-21 08:49:35 · answer #6 · answered by conman610 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO!!! Its a safety concern. Replace the tire. Fine on a bicycle or a car. On a motorcycle you have two tires, with small contact patches that connect you to the road. Do you want to risk a tire failure and crash?
2007-01-21 05:23:27 · answer #7 · answered by Iceplayr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's time to replace the tire. never use sealant or plugs. it's too risky to bank ur life on them. mc tire's flex alot more than car tires.
2007-01-21 05:37:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a slow leak, and there's no obvious source, try fix-a-flat. You are not at risk of your tire just shredding into a million pieces.
2007-01-21 05:58:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have tried it before, and would not use it. I'm not sure its safe, so you may want to get a new tire.
2007-01-21 11:44:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋