Bluffer’s -GUIDE-

TUBELESS SEALANT

What is tubeless sealant?

Tubeless sealant is a liquid designed to plug small holes in a tyre’s casing, thus preventing punctures. It works a bit like blood clotting to prevent bleeding. There are two main types – latex-based and latex-free.

Sealing particles

Most latex-based sealants also contain small particles, such as glitter. These provide a surface for the latex to coagulate around, helping it to seal holes more quickly and e ectively. The downside is that these particles accelerate the rate at which the latex coagulates inside the tyre, reducing the sealant’s lifespan.

Latex-based sealant

These use the coagulating properties of synthetic latex to clog punctures. Latex is a dispersion of polymers (long-chain molecules) in water. Inside a hole in the tyre, there’s a drop in air pressure and a rush of air. This causes the water to evaporate, leaving the latex molecules to coagulate, plugging the hole.

Latex-free sealants

These have no latex and no chemical change occurs inside the tyre. Instead, they rely on a thicker liquid containing a wider variety of sealing particles, designed to physically plug punctures, like logs clogging a river. These sealants last far longer but, in our experience, don’t plug punctures as well.