Flat Repair Sealants Keep you from Getting Stranded

Published on May 30, 2016 08:00 AM in Maintenance

You're driving across the Great Salt Flats when your tire goes flat. Pulling to the side of the road, you realize the nearest repair center is an hour away and other drivers are passing by dangerously close.

What now?

Aerosol tire sealants are an easy and quick way to get back on the road. Drivers can choose from numerous tire sealers, and they are a time-tested technology available since at least the 1970s.

"Drivers should keep a can in the car for emergencies, especially when they travel far from home and in remote areas," said Ron Fausnight, car care technology specialist for Shell Global Solutions, which produces the Fix-a-Flat tire sealer. "Space really isn't a concern since the products are roughly the size of a spray paint can."

Tire sealants help you safely drive to the nearest repair center and are not intended as a long term fix. Manufacturers recommend getting a permanent repair done within a day or two.

"Tire sealant products do two things," Fausnight said. "They inflate the tire and give you a strong temporary seal."

Most tire sealants use a resin and fiber liquid that forms an airtight bond. The can injects the tire with 10 to 15 pounds of air pressure.

Hardening materials in the sealants can unbalance a tire. As a result, tires should be inspected and repaired professionally within two days of using sealant.

"Aerosol tire sealants are best-used for damage to the tread area," Fausnight said. "It may not work for some punctures in the sidewall or knife-like cuts."

Keep the sealant in the trunk of your vehicle or in the spare wheel well. Temperatures in those areas are generally cooler than the passenger cabin and help keep the sealant ready for use, Fausnight said.

"Like any can with contents under pressure you should keep it out of direct sunlight," Fausnight said. "The spare wheel well is a perfect place to store it."

Fausnight offered an important caveat: Some tire shops will claim the tires patched with sealants cannot be fixed.

"But that's simply not true," Fausnight said. "It's courteous to tell the tire shop that you used a sealant. The sealants rinse out easily, but they leave liquid in the tire, and you want to let them know about that so when they take it off, they aren't surprised."

Fausnight had the follow suggestions to help prevent getting stranded with a flat tire:

Aerosol tire sealants offer a quick fix to most punctures in tires allowing drivers to get back on the road within minutes and avoid the dangers of changing a tire on the shoulder of the road.
Inject a sealant directly through the tire's valve stem. Drivers should read the instructions on the back of the can to avoid possible damage to the tire.
Fix tires permanently at a professional tire center within two days after using tire sealant.
Use the entire can of sealant. There's no need to worry about using too much sealant, but too little can fail to fix the flat.
Store cans of tire sealant in the spare wheel well or in the trunk of your vehicle. The cooler temperature helps keep the product ready for use.
Read instructions on the can as different brands vary slightly. Usually, tire sealers should be shaken to mix the ingredients and then added through the tire's valve stem.

"Tire sealants are a handy safety item that every traveler should keep on hand for emergencies," Fausnight said. "They are inexpensive and highly effective."