Are Emergency Tyre Fix products safe ?

[Danie]

I have experienced a slow pressure leak at a tyre, and the problem has been solved by using an "emergency tyre fix" (foam) product which has been inflated into the tyre.

According to the instructions on the product container one should "travel at reduced speed and have tyre repaired as sson as possible" - but according to a local motorcycle friend these products are safe to be used permenantly - even at higher speed.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but are these products really safe to be used permanently ?

Thanks.

[Bob_Roller]

If you have a tube inside the tire, it's not a good idea, the tube has been damaged and needs to be replaced .

Spray a soapy water solution on the tire and find out where the leak is coming from, also check the valve core for leakage .

I had a chronic leak on a rear tire, the valve core was being slightly depressed by the valve cap, causing a slow leak .

I re-read this, how much pressure are you losing in a week ?

During the hot weather here in Phoenix, I've had 'good' tire and tube combination lose as much as 4 pounds of pressure a week.

I had natural rubber Metzeler tubes, these seem to lose the most pressure, I guess the natural rubber has more seepage through it, the synthetic tubes don't appear to have this much of a problem .

[Dizerens5]

These repair aerosols have been around for years. Originally I think they were called Finilec. Many claim to be usable with inner tubes, without any further advice but I'm sure Bob is right, with a tube it's strictly emergency only. For what it's worth I've only twice seen them used on an inner tube (not on my bike): once the rider rode off quite happy into the distance, despite half the foam having sprayed out around the valve. The other time the spray had no effect at all. Go figure.

[Barry]

I've never had any luck with these aerosols  especially in tubes. There are some gloops that are designed to go in before you get the puncture which by implication is safe for permanent use. Can't imagine the tyre manufactures approving them though.

[Danie]

I re-read this, how much pressure are you losing in a week ?

.

I do have a tube inside the tyre, and initially the leak was quite slow. The leak got worse by time, and I eventually had to inflate the tyre every day.

Problem is, I needed the bike for commuting purposes every day, and decided to use this product for the time being.

The product works perfectly, and has been inflated to the tube about two months ago. It actually works so well, that I tend to forget that according to the manufacturer, the tyre should be repared "as soon as possible".

The local friend assured me that it is safe to use these products permanently, but I thought it might be better to get more information about the safety of these products.

Thanks for the comments.

[Dizerens5]

Maybe of interest: it was when I lived in Belgium about 25 years ago that I first heard of Finilec and similar -- it was news from the local riot police who used it their vehicles as a precaution against rioters using knives to deflate the tyres. What was really interesting was the warning they gave: with this foam in place a nail or staple etc entering the tube could remain unnoticed until it worked its way right through, leaving a big hole and a blowout despite the foam. So pull out sharps!

[Dizerens5]

BTW it's sometimes said that the best way of avoiding punctures is to avoid riding close to construction sites. True.

[k_enn]

At the national rally, there was a great seminar on tire repairing.  The bottom line of the presenter, and most of the attendees, was that the emergency-repair-in-a-can products are not good, especially when you run a tube.  A leak, or even a puncture, indicates that there is a problem with the tube.  Even if the product stops the leak when first applied (which it may not do if there is a major rip in the tube), it does not address the underlying cause of the problem.  You could be dealing with deterioration of the tube itself, the beginning of a tube failure at the valve stem, etc., these product may just disguise and postpone a larger failure.  The vast consensus was to properly patch the tube, or replace the tube.

k_enn

[Danie]

Thanks, I only use the bike at slow speed and commuting to work - but I will rather replace the tube then.

Danie