Sealants

Tubeless Sealant Guide

Sealant is what makes tubeless tyres work — without it, you just have a slow leak. The liquid coats the inside of the tyre and plugs small punctures instantly as they happen. Choosing the right sealant and maintaining it properly is the difference between riding through thorns without noticing and walking home with a flat.

How Sealant Works

Sealant contains tiny particles (latex, fibres, or synthetic compounds) suspended in a liquid carrier. When a thorn or sharp object punctures the tyre, air pressure forces sealant into the hole. The particles clump together around the puncture, the liquid evaporates, and a plug forms. Most sealants can seal holes up to 3-4mm. Larger cuts need a tyre plug in addition to sealant.

Popular Sealants

Stan's NoTubes is the original and most widely used — reliable, good longevity, and universally compatible. Muc-Off No Puncture Hassle uses synthetic latex and claims longer life in the tyre. Orange Seal Endurance is designed for longer intervals between top-ups. Peaty's Holeshot uses natural latex with added fibres for sealing larger holes. Most sealants work similarly for small punctures — the real differences show in longevity (how long before it dries out) and the maximum hole size they can seal.

How Much to Use

Standard recommendation: 60-90ml per tyre for 27.5" and 29" MTB tyres. Lighter casings and dryer conditions need more. DH casings and cooler climates can run less. More sealant isn't always better — too much adds unnecessary rotating weight and sloshes audibly. Too little and punctures won't seal reliably.

Maintenance

Sealant dries out over time — faster in hot weather, slower in cool conditions. Top up every 2-4 months by removing the valve core and injecting fresh sealant with a syringe. If the tyre has been sitting for months, break the bead, scrape out the dried latex boogers, and start fresh. Riding on dried-out sealant means the next puncture won't seal and you're reaching for that emergency tube.