You have two bottles of sealant, but both seem only to be half full when you shake them. It would save time and money to mix both bottles to use the contents of each one; this will protect or repair the tire – problem solved – or is it?
Unless both are the same product, you should not mix tire sealants. The composition of sealants varies greatly; some have ammonia with Latex, others are Glycol based. Each uses different actions to repair a hole, and mixing them may dilute the product, stopping them from working.
This tiny patch of tire rubber that contacts the road is the only thing that keeps the vehicle safe. It needs to operate in different temperature conditions, at varying speeds, carrying different weights, all while ensuring it remains flexible enough to provide a comfortable travel experience. Inserting mixtures of products that are not approved and may cause injury and damage is unwise.
You Should Not Mix Tire Sealants?
Mixing sealants is a bit like entering the lottery, it will either make no difference or dissolve the other, and neither will work. Sealants are used as a repair and preventative measure. You will only find out if it is working when the tire is damaged, and the sealant works – or doesn’t. If the tire sealant doesn’t work, you will have to end up having to remove the tire and repair it on the side of the road.
The two primary tire sealants are based on different formulas (Latex and Glycol); each manufacturer mixes its unique combination of additives. Even if the tube you have is based on the same primary ingredient, the different additives may cause a reaction or reduce the product’s performance.
Suppose you try to use a cartridge tire sealer and inflator to repair a puncture in a tire that already has sealant inside. In that case, the problem may worsen as the cartridge contents could be a different base composition rendering it ineffective.
What Are The Two Type Of Tire Sealants?
There are two primary types of tire sealants.
Latex Based Sealants
Latex-based sealants are non-water-based and are commonly used by cyclists. Latex costs less and doesn’t require additives such as fibers to function as a sealant.
These sealants are naturally coagulating and use the properties of Latex to seal the tire. Latex-based sealants are kept in a liquid state by mixing them with ammonia. If the tire is damaged and air leaks out, the movement of air transports the sealant to the damage; this causes the ammonia to evaporate, and the latex molecules thicken, which seals the hole.
After a time, the remaining ammonia evaporates, and the remaining sealant solidifies; You should replace latex-based sealants every 15,000km. If the sealant hardens, it results in the inside of the tire carcass being coated in a solid, messy substance that is difficult to remove; this can unbalance the tire and may eventually result in you having to replace it.
Latex sealants can corrode steel rims and degrade the tire’s rubber.
Glycol Based Sealants
Glycol-based tire sealants include Glycol, thickeners, binding agents, mica, rubber particles, and cellulose fibers of varying strengths. The water-based Glycol keeps the sealant in a semi-liquid state until it is needed.
The sealant forms a layer on the inside of the tire. When a puncture occurs, the tire’s internal pressure pushes the glycol-based sealant into the damaged hole.
The fibers and mica particles in the mixture accumulate. A rubber plug is formed in the hole. Th
e natural contraction and expansion of the cavity while the vehicle is moving squeezers the Glycol from the plug, and it hardens.
A glycol-based tire sealant plug is a more natural repair, as the mica/rubber partials and fibers closely mimic the tire’s rubber.
The Pros And Cons Of Each Tire Sealant
Each product has pros and cons, these are:
Latex Based Sealants
Cyclists most often use latex-based sealant; the benefits of this type are:
- Latex sealants are very effective and work almost instantly. If a high-pressure tire is damaged, the air will rush out very fast. The sealant must work instantly; this makes latex-based systems more suited to this application.
- Latex-based sealers have a lower production cost and, therefore, are cheaper.
The disadvantages of latex base sealants are:
- Over time the ammonia evaporates, and the sealant will solidify; this leaves a hard crusty residue on the inside of the tire, which is difficult to remove.
- Ammonia has potentially harmful side effects which can cause injury.
- If exposed to water, ammonia is corrosive and may damage the wheel and rim.
- Latex-based sealers have a shorter shelf life, and unused sealers will degrade over time.
Glycol Based Sealants
There are many benefits to using a Propylene Glycol sealant.
- It is water-soluble.
- It has a long shelf life and can be reused.
- It is easily washed out with water.
- It is not toxic
- It is not flammable.
- It retards corrosion and reduces tire degradation.
- It prevents air loss, bead leaks and reduces running temperatures.
The disadvantages of using glycol base sealants are:
- Although they work well, being a thicker mixture, they take a little longer to fix a puncture which may mean you have to pump the tire to regain the ideal pressure.
Not all glycol-based tire sealants are created equal. To ensure you acquire the most effective product, check the ingredients to confirm it contains the following:
- Aramid Fibres (Kevlar), Ceramic, and other synthetic fibers.
- The Quantity of Fibres (higher density means a better sealant)
- Additives such as crushed marble and mica particles that result in a superior sealant
Conclusion
Due to the different makeup and actions of varying tire sealants, it is not good to mix them.
Latex-based sealants rely on the ammonia carrier to evaporate to seal a tire leak, whereas Glycol-based products require the viscous liquid to fill the hole and harden over time.
Mixing them will dilute each mixture and prevent each type’s activity from repairing a hole.
References
http://www.nomorepunctures.co.za/technical/how-tyre-sealant-works