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Does anyone run tubes with sealant added?

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Does anyone run tubes with sealant added?

Old 02-22-22, 12:26 PM
  #1  
am8117
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Does anyone run tubes with sealant added?

Now obviously there's the added weight, but adding a bit of sealant to inner tube inside a tire with limited to none puncture protection has to limit the number of road-side flat fixes necessary. In case of major cut it is easy to swap for fresh inner tube with little mess or difficulties making the beads seal.

Does anyone run this successfully? As in, would not know until replacing the tubes that the sealant did its job, but having genuinely good riding experience and fewer flats?
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Old 02-22-22, 01:03 PM
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if the debris is not removed from the site of entry, the psi loss will likely be a constant ordeal. That is what history has taught me. Was it worth it, meh, it did save some time from patching/tubing it. I still had to pump it up & ensure it was sealed well enough before riding again. Once I got done riding, I swapped it out.
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Old 02-22-22, 01:18 PM
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I have had mixed results. Had no luck at all with orange seal, biketubes thing butyl tubes, with vittoria g tires at 110 psi

I have had ok results (meaning the sealant has appeared to work several times) with caffee latex (30ml) in conti race tubes and conti gp5000 at 95 psi.....went 1700 miles before first real flat

how much pressure you run seems to make a big difference
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Old 02-22-22, 01:31 PM
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Muc-Off makes some inner tube specific sealant. I have it in my commuter but since I haven't been going into the office I don't have too many miles on it and no punctures to test it. Road.cc did a review on it and found it works, but, like squirtdad said, the pressure you run makes a difference.
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Old 02-22-22, 02:13 PM
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Yes I've been using @ an ounce of Stans NoTubes in my & my wife's bikes for the last several years (700cc x 25 & 28 road tires). It has saved me roadside tube changes at least 3 times. Most recent I noticed loss of pressure in my rear tire so I pulled off the road to change tubes. At @ 40 psi the pressure seemed to hold so I added a few pumps from my Lezyne and made it the remaining 12 miles home ok. Upon removal there was telltale sealant residue on the inside tire surface at the tiny puncture hole in the tube.
It won't prevent flats from cuts or large punctures but for small pinholes from thorns, staples and small wire brads (all of which I've removed before changing tubes and none had gone flat on the road) it works for me.
BTW re. the small weight increase I certainly can't tell.
Use tubes with removable cores and add the sealant before you install the tube. I use the Stans syringe with the spout trimmed back a bit to fit snug over the stem. Pour in desired amount then install the core & mount. So far my wife hasn't had a flat in over a year & the sealant is still viable.
Won't cost you much to try and one save is worth the $$$.
West
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Old 02-22-22, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Troul
if the debris is not removed from the site of entry, the psi loss will likely be a constant ordeal. That is what history has taught me. Was it worth it, meh, it did save some time from patching/tubing it. I still had to pump it up & ensure it was sealed well enough before riding again. Once I got done riding, I swapped it out.
this has been the biggest issues. the last three times I could only find the thing after I took the tire off. rain does not help either.
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Old 02-23-22, 05:42 AM
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Because the tube is so stretchy (as opposed to a tire), sealant will only help so much. It's probably better to just get liners.
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Old 02-23-22, 05:51 AM
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I've used Orange in latex tubes with decent results.
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Old 02-23-22, 07:17 AM
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I don't. I use skinny 28s with high pressure.
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Old 02-23-22, 11:40 AM
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I never use sealant for tubes. If you need punture protection get a tire with it or a liner. I found sealant prevents you from patching the tube so its useless to me. Also tubes have powder in them which never mixes well with sealant. Carry a spare tube and a patch kit and pump.
Or, run tubeless with sealant.
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Old 02-23-22, 12:04 PM
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I wouldn't add goo to anything unless it were a tubeless set up. If I am getting a lot of flats I will look at getting a more puncture protectant tire in a wider width as possible, make sure I am pumping my tires regularly to the recommendations (taking into account my weight and such) and doing my best to avoid really glass laden areas when possible. If that doesn't work I would look at something like Tannus Armor inserts which are a softer foam insert that goes around a smaller tube and gives you some extra protection without being rough and easy to move around like some older liners. However I find wider tires at the proper pressure lead to fewer chances of flats.
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Old 02-23-22, 01:42 PM
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Some folks have had sealant blowback coming back up into their hand pumps, destroying them.

I'd rather have a good tire with a strong ply and sidewalls, a Mr.Tuffy, carry a spare tube, rather than some messy-ass goo.
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Old 02-23-22, 02:04 PM
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That was the whole idea with Slime when it was heavily marketed back in the early 90's. I remember putting that stuff in tubes for customers fairly often, but it was mostly commuters and kids bikes while racers and enthusiasts felt it was too heavy and unreliable. I don't know exactly how different it is to tubeless sealant, but Slime does say they don't recommend their product for tubeless for fear of corrosion to the rim.
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Old 02-23-22, 02:09 PM
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The only time I did runs sealant in a tubed bike was when touring in the Moab/Grand Junction/La Salle mountains area, as the chance of goat heads was a serious one. In a few hundred miles of motel/credit card touring no flats. This bike doesn't see much riding other than on tours so it pretty much sat for a year+ before I replaced the tubes and serviced the bike for more tours. Since then no flats (with no sealant). BTW the tires are Panaracer Pasellas with breaker belts molded in. Andy
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