Tire bead sealant
Content
Tire bead sealants are of two types. The first is designed to process the bead ring of a tubeless tire before installing it on the rim. The second type of bead sealants for tires is applied when the tire is roughened, in which its layer is slightly damaged, which ensures the tightness of the inner volume of the wheel. Some and other sealants are more necessary for workers and owners of tire shops, where the corresponding work is carried out in a large (industrial) volume. Moreover, usually, the volume of packages of these funds is quite large.
The store carries a variety of tire rim sealants (sometimes referred to as mastic or grease). They are selected based on information about their type, properties, and conditions of use, and the price and volume are in last place, because the main thing is that the sealant for installing a tubeless tube is of high quality. In addition, it is useful to take into account reviews and tests about sealants for tubeless tire discs left by craftsmen on various resources on the Internet. further in the material is a non-advertising rating of such popular tools used by workers in tire shops. It looks like this:
| Name of funds | Brief description and features | Package volume, ml/mg | Price as of winter 2018/2019, rubles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side seal Tip Top | One of the most popular bead sealants. The main advantage is its gel-like state in which it is in the tire. This makes it possible not only to seal it on the rim, but also in case of damage, the sealant flows to the puncture site and immediately seals it. | 1 liter; 5 liters. | 700 rubles; 2500 rubles |
| TECH Bead Sealer | It is usually used in professional tire shops. It can be used for processing rubber of cars and trucks. Cans with a volume of 945 ml, enough to process 68 ... 70 wheels with a diameter of 13 to 16 inches. | 945 | 1000 |
| Sealant Bead Sealer Rossvik | Domestic popular sealant, used for the treatment of tires for cars and trucks. The package includes a brush for application. Well departs from the surface when dismantling the rubber from the disk. | 500 ml; 1000 ml | 300 rubles; 600 rubles. |
| Bead sealant for tubeless tires BHZ | It is widely used on the territory of the Russian Federation and other post-Soviet countries. With the help of a sealant, it is possible to “heal” cracks up to 3 mm in size, however, for this it must be applied in two or three layers with intermediate drying of each of them. The package includes a brush for easy application of the product on the surface to be treated. | 800 | 500 |
| Bead sealer with Unicord brush | Inexpensive and fairly effective bead sealant based on airtight rubber. Often used by small tire shops. | 1000 | 500 |
Types of Sealants for Tubeless Tires
In order to answer the question of why tire sealant is needed, it is necessary to clarify that these products are divided into two types: sealing (used for tire fitting) and repair sealants (for restoring the tubeless layer on the tire).
Sealants for sealing can also be divided into two subspecies. The first is the so-called "black". Their task is to seal the interior of a tubeless tire and eliminate air leakage along the tire bead when high-mileage and / or simply old wheels are used (rubber tends to crack and shrink over time).
usually, such sealants are applied in several layers (usually two, maximum three layers) with their intermediate drying for 5-10 minutes. In most tire shops, “black” sealants are used by craftsmen when performing seasonal tire changes on cars that car owners turn to them. A feature of such sealants is that they dry out, forming an elastic film, the shape of which exactly repeats the voids between the tire bead and the cord. However, the fact that sealants harden is a disadvantage, especially when operating the vehicle on roads with poor road surfaces.
The fact is that there is always a risk of damage to the side tire sealants. This is due to driving on bad roads, off-road, especially at high speed. At the same time, an additional mechanical load is placed on the wheels, and namely, the sealant, which can lead to the occurrence of microcracks in it. And this automatically entails depressurization and gradual air leakage. in order to get rid of it, you need to seek help from a tire shop.
However, there are "black" sealants that do not dry out. This is where their advantage lies. So, when a similar microcrack occurs, the sealant, under the pressure of the outgoing air in the liquid state, moves to the place of localization and seals it like sealants for tire repair.
The second type of sealants are tubeless layer sealants. They are applied to the shaded areas on the sidewalls of the tire, before the patch is placed inside the tire.
In the process of roughening, the rubber layer is broken, which holds the air. Therefore, in order for pressure to be maintained after such treatment, the tire must be treated with an appropriate sealant. Moreover, it is possible to process not the entire perimeter of the layer, but only that part that was damaged during the roughening process and after installing the patch, and also apply it to the edges of the patch.
Do I need to apply sealant?
On thematic forums on the Internet, you can often find heated debate about whether it makes sense to use sealants for the board. There are many contradictory arguments and examples on this score. Omitting unnecessary arguments, we can say that onboard sealants (preventive) are recommended to be used when repairing a low-quality or old (having significant mileage) tires and the defective disc itself. In this case, its tubeless layer adjacent to the surface of the rim is loose. And this is a direct reason for the risk of tire depressurization.
If good new tires are installed on the car, especially on a non-bent disk, then the use of sealant is optional. And in some cases, even harmful. For example, if the elastic adjacent rubber layer is very soft, and the sealant becomes rigid after drying, this is very harmful to the tire. In addition, depressurization of the wheel is possible. This situation is due precisely to the fact that the tire will sit rigidly in its seat, and when driving on a bad road (especially at high speed), the sealant can give a microcrack through which air will escape.
Some drivers note that due to the use of sealants, if necessary, it is very difficult to separate the tire from the rim. In fact, such a problem can arise not only due to the use of the mentioned means, but also due to a mismatch in the width of the tire and disk. So there are three solutions here. The first (and more correct) is the use of the “correct” rims that are most suitable for a particular tire. The second is the use of softer rubber, that is, with a more elastic side. The third is the use of special liquids to dissolve sealants. An example of such a tool is Tech's Bead Breaker (P/N 734Q).
As for repair sealants, which are applied after the mentioned roughening, the situation here is more obvious. If an appropriate repair operation was carried out to restore the tire, then the use of such a sealant is also very desirable. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the repaired tire will not let air through exactly in the place where the roughening was carried out.
it is worth briefly dwelling on how to apply sealant to the bead ring of the tire. First of all need to clean up the disk (namely, its end side, which is in contact with the wheel rubber) from dirt, dust, rust, peeling paint and other possible damage.
Wheel cleaners
A special cleaner is used to clean wheel rims. It can be acidic or non-acidic. These products wash off bitumen and other dirt well. According to tests, the best rating includes: Tortal Wax, Koch, Liquid Moly Read more
Some drivers grind the disc surface with sandpaper or special grinding brushes worn on a drill or grinder. Likewise with the surface of the tire. It should be cleaned as much as possible from dust, dirt, and possible deposits. And only after that, using a brush (or other similar device), apply mastic to the edge of the sidewall of the tire for its further installation on the disk.
it is also worth paying attention to the condition of the rims, their geometry. The fact is that over time, especially when driving on roads with poor road surface, they can be mechanically damaged.
The Best Tire Bead Sealants
Currently, there are quite a lot of different sealants for mounting tubeless tires on sale. Their choice must be made, based, first of all, on their type and purpose. The presented rating of the best tire bead sealants, based on an analysis of tests and reviews from car owners who have used certain similar compounds at different times. the list is not commercial in nature and does not advertise any product presented in it. Its purpose is to help the tire fitter or car enthusiast buy the tire bead sealant best suited to their task.
Side seal Tip Top
One of the highest quality and most popular tire bead sealants. Produced by Rema tip top in Germany. The popularity of this tool is due to the fact that after being applied to the surface of the tire and during the operation of the tire, it does not freeze, but is constantly in a gel-like state. This is its competitive advantage, because thanks to this factor, it not only reliably protects the internal volume of the tire from depressurization, but if such a nuisance occurs, it will effectively protect the wheel from it. Due to the ability to go from a gel-like state to a solid state upon contact with air, that is, by vulcanizing rubber.
The instructions indicate that using the Type Top sealant, you can get rid of cracks up to 3 mm in size. The basis of the sealant is airtight rubber. When dismantling the tire, it does not cause problems, that is, the sealant easily peels off from the disk and rubber. Real tests show that this sealant really excels in its quality, and many professional workshops use it in their practice.
Tip Top Bead Sealer 5930807 is available in two pack sizes - one liter and five liters. Accordingly, their prices as of the winter of 2018/2019 are about 700 and 2500 rubles.
TECH Bead Sealer
Tech Bead Sealer TECH735 is designed to seal the interior of a tubeless tire by providing a secure protective layer between the rim and the tire. It is noted that it can be used even if the disc has slight irregularities. is also one of the most popular products in its market segment. usually used in professional tire shops. The composition is combustible, so you can not heat it and store it in close proximity to sources of open fire. It is undesirable to inhale it, and also it is impossible to allow the sealant to get on the skin, and even more so in the eyes. One package is enough to process about 68-70 car tires (diameter from 13 to 16 inches).
The onboard sealant Leak is sold in a metal can with a volume of 945 ml. Its price as of the above period is about 1000 rubles.
Sealant Bead Sealer Rossvik
The bead sealant Bead Sealer from the well-known Russian company Rossvik GB.10.K.1 is one of the most popular such products in its market segment. It can be used for processing wheels of both cars and trucks. It is noted that the sealant is able to seal damage up to 3 mm in size. However, for this you need to apply two or three layers of the product with preliminary drying of each of them. To do this, you need to use a traditional technical hair dryer. The basis of the sealant is airtight rubber, which does not shrink and dries quickly. Even with long-term operation of the wheel, its dismantling is not a problem. If it is necessary to eliminate air leakage on the wheels of trucks, it is allowed to use soft porous paper together with the sealant. This will reduce the consumption of sealant while maintaining its high efficiency values.
The great popularity among motorists and masters of tire fitting stations is due to the high efficiency of the product, as well as the low price. Respectively. Rossvik bead sealant is recommended for purchase to anyone who is constantly engaged in tire fitting work. Please note that there are packages that include a brush for applying the product to the surface to be treated, and there are packages without it!
It is sold in various packages, including jars of 500 ml and 1000 ml. The article of the popular 1000 ml package is GB-1000K. Its price is about 600 rubles.
Bead sealant for tubeless tires BHZ
Bead sealant for tubeless tires "BHZ" (abbreviation BHZ) VSK01006908 means that this product is produced by the Barnaul Chemical Plant. Designed to create a strong seal and eliminate air leaks that can occur between the rim and tire bead. The instructions indicate that the BHZ board sealant is able to eliminate cracks up to 3 mm wide. However, to achieve such a high result, several layers must be applied to the rubber with intermediate drying. The instructions assume degreasing the place before applying the BHZ sealant. This will ensure better contact and extend the durability of its use. The sealant has a high curing speed.
The tool can be used both as a preventive and also as a repair. In the first case, it can be used with regular replacement of tires from summer to winter and vice versa. In the second case, using a sealant, you can get rid of existing air leaks at the points of contact between the disk and rubber. That is, apply it locally. However, if the size of the damage site exceeds 3 mm, then this sealant (as well as other similar products) will not help, so you need to mechanically repair the disc or look for the cause of the air leak in another circumstance.
Sold in an 800 ml tin can, the kit comes with a brush for applying the product to the surface to be treated. The price of one package is about 500 rubles.
Bead sealer with Unicord brush
Sealant Unicord 56497 is produced by the company of the same name in the CIS. As the name implies, the kit includes a brush for applying the composition to the surface to be treated. The sealant can be used for both car and truck tires. It is especially effective to use it for old tires that already have a battered inner layer. It is noted that the sealant is able to "heal" cracks up to 3 mm in size. Easily removed from the surface when dismantling the tire. The basis of the composition is airtight rubber.
The reviews found on the Internet suggest that the Unicord bead sealant is a very effective, and most importantly, inexpensive tool, therefore it is quite popular with employees of various service stations and tire shops.
Sold in a 1000 ml metal can. Its price is about 500 rubles.
This list can be continued further, especially since now the market is constantly replenished with new sealing compounds. If you have had experience using one of these sealants for mounting tires - express your opinion about its work. But not everyone buys such a shaving brush, with self-assembly, car owners seal between the tire and the disk with other, improvised means.
How to make your own tire sealant
There is a so-called "folk" recipe, according to which you can prepare homemade tire sealant. So, almost all factory products contain rubber, which is found in "raw rubber". Accordingly, in order to produce a sealant for a tubeless tire cord with your own hands, you need to buy the very raw rubber and simply soak it in gasoline.
However, the subtlety here is in order to purchase imported rubber, since, unfortunately, there are a lot of impurities in the composition of domestic products, and rubber can be quite a bit or it will be of poor quality. As for gasoline, you can use almost any available, not necessarily the most expensive and high octane. Some auto repairers use kerosene and even diesel fuel for these purposes. But still, gasoline will be a better solution in this case.
As for the proportions in which raw rubber should be diluted, there is no single standard here. The main thing is to add a solvent in such an amount so that the mixture gets a semi-liquid state, that is, it is similar in consistency to a factory sealant. So, you can easily apply it with a brush on the bead ring and / or the side surface of the tire. Similar advice on self-production of sealant can often be found on the Internet from experienced workers in tire shops. Although often the driver is simply smeared with grease on the side. It both seals and protects the disc from corrosion.
Hack and predictor Aviator
The use of sealants for the bead of tires allows not only to maintain the tightness of the inner space of the tire, but also to extend its life. The use of these funds is especially important in the case of using not very high-quality rubber or tires with significant mileage. Similarly, it is worth using them in a situation where the rim of the rim has damage (deformation), which leads to depressurization (albeit insignificant) of the inflated tire.
However, if the car uses high-quality rubber (namely, branded from well-known world manufacturers), as well as even, undeformed discs, then the use of sealant between the tire and the disc is hardly worth it. Therefore, whether to use a sealant or not is up to the car owner or tire station employee to decide.
