Chapter 4 Tyre Sealants and Tyres

Contents

Tyre Sealants 1

Rubber Based 1

Water Based 1

Glycol Based 1

The Problem 2

The Solution 2

What Is Tyre Protector? 2

Characteristics Of Tyre Protector 3

How Does Tyre Protector Work? 3

Tyre Protector Sealants 4

The Benefits 4

Protection 4

Operation At High Temperatures 4

Operation At Low Temperatures 4

Tyre Protector Enhances Tyre Life. 5

Safety 5

Compatibility 5

Dependability 5

Contamination 5

Puncturing Objects 6

Recommendations And Accreditations 6

Tyre Protector And Rubber Latex Sealants - A Comparison 7

Questions And Answers 8

Questions And Answers. Cont, 9

Questions And Answers. Cont, 10

Questions And Answers. Cont, 11

Questions And Answers. Cont, 12

Tyre Types 12

Tube Tyres Vs Tubeless Tyres 12

Tube Tyres Vs Tubeless Tyres. Cont, 13

Cross Ply Vs Radial Tyres 13

Solid Fill Tyres 13

Re-Capping (Re-Moulds) 13

Re-Capping (Re-Moulds). Cont, 14

Recapping Vs New Tyres 14

How Many Caps Should Each Casing Provide? 14

Tyre Pressures 14

Correct Inflation 14

Correct Inflation. Cont, 15

Under Inflation 15

How Does Tyre Inflation Affect Maintenance Costs? 16

Air Loss 17

Tyre Information 17

Aspect Ratio 17

Tyre Speed Rating 18

Tyre Markings 18

Tyre Wear Patterns 20

Ó Tyre Protector International Limited 2006

Chapter 4 Tyre Sealants and Tyres

Tyre Sealants

Tyre Sealants are designed to seal punctures from within. They are installed through the valve after the removal of the valve core. The tyre does not have to be deflated to carry out the installation.

There are currently three different types of Sealant on the market and a brief explanation of each is given below.

Rubber Based

Typically these are ‘get you home’ products supplied in a pressurised aerosol can. The Sealant is injected under pressure from the can when the tyre has been punctured. The gas used to inject the Sealant also serves to inflate the tyre at the same time. This material solidifies inside the tyre and can only ever be considered a temporary repair subject to low speed limits. In addition the solidification of the Sealant within the tyre often results in semi-permanent contamination.

Water Based

These are normally sold in plastic bottles and the contents are squeezed into the tyre when the tyre has been deflated before a puncture occurs. The Sealant remains liquid within the tyre but because it is water based may freeze and/or separate at low temperatures and cause severe imbalance problems.

Glycol Based

Tyre Protector is a Glycol Based Sealant. The Glycol base makes it a very consistent sealant which will not freeze, separate or dry out under adverse conditions. In addition, because the Glycol base is mixed with more than 15 other none toxic ingredients to produce the formula, it makes Tyre Protector the most advanced Tyre Sealant on the market.

Tyre Protector is supplied in 25 litre containers and requires the use of a pump for installation.

The Problem

Tyre sealants have been around for a long time but for many years the industry could not produce a sealant which could withstand the pressure and stresses in tyres at speeds over 30 miles per hour for any appreciable length of time.

The Solution

In 2002, by applying new technology, the breakthrough came about. A Tyre Sealant, which could withstand heat, cold and the centrifugal forces imposed upon it, was developed. Tyre Protector is that product.

What Is Tyre Protector?

Tyre Protector is a Mono Propylene Glycol based water soluble tyre sealant which when installed into a tyre will give full protection against air loss for the entire legal life of the tyre. Tyre Protector will eradicate the following:

·  Tread area punctures.

·  Rim and Bead-leaks in Industrial Applications.

·  Porosity Leaks.

Tyre Protector has a revolutionary water and none toxic chemical formula that enables the product to remain fluid at all times, thus enabling the product to immediately seal a puncture wound made by a puncturing object of up to 6 mm in diameter in a car tyre and a puncture wound made by a puncturing object of up to 12 mm in a commercial vehicle tyre in the tread area of the tyre, without loss of air pressure.

As a result, Tyre Protector gives the advantage of longer tyre life together with lower downtime and maintenance costs and improved fuel efficiency.

Tyre Protector is classified as nontoxic, nonhazardous and does not require (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency classification and complies with all (TSCA) Toxic Substance Control Authority requirements.

Characteristics Of Tyre Protector

Tyre Protector combines water in a Propylene Glycol based solution with rubber granules, adhesion agents, drying agents, and rust and corrosion inhibitors. Tyre Protector is designed to keep the product in constant suspension.

The product adheres to the internal wall and tread area of the tyre. As the product remains fluid at all times it provides constant protection. The sealant requires no mixing, no stirring or any other preparation. To clean, simply rinse with water.

Tools and materials required for installation:

·  Tyre Protector Sealant.

·  Installation Pump.

·  Valve core remover.

·  Air compressor.

How Does Tyre Protector Work?

Tyre Protector is installed through the valve stem. The average installation time is only several minutes per tyre. As Tyre Protector is a liquid, once the vehicle is driven, the entire inside of the tyre will be coated with Sealant in all industrial applications. In domestic cars and high speed commercials the Sealant will coat the entire inner tread area thus preventing imbalance and making punctures a thing of the past.

Should an object pierce the tyre, air pressure inside the tyre forces Sealant into the wound instantly forming a permanent repair without loss of air.

Excess heat is a tyres biggest enemy. It is primarily caused by underinflation often caused by slow punctures, porosity leaks and poor maintenance. Tyre Protector will protect tyres against underinflation thus extending tyre life and improving fuel efficiency.

Tyre Protector Sealants

Tyre Protector is supplied in 25 litre containers and is available in two grades:

·  Tyre Protector – for vehicles that exceed a speed of 80 kph or 50 mph.

·  Heavy Duty – for off road low speed applications. (Puncturing objects up to 12 mm in diameter).

The Benefits

Protection

Because Tyre Protector is glycol based and contains natural preservatives and corrosion inhibitors it does not corrode or destabilise any of the components of a tyre or rim. By its very nature it seals the pores of the tyres and so prevents air loss by leakage. Tyre Protector is able to perform well at almost any temperature and has been tested at speeds up to 150 mph. Its compatibility with any type of tyre construction is guaranteed. Tyre Protector will prevent rust and corrosion and last for the legal life of the tyre.

Operation At High Temperatures

Tyre Protector has the ability to cool tyres. It provides a coating throughout the inner surface of the tyre, which acts as a heat exchanger, dissipating the heat from the wheel. Although tyres do need a degree of heat to perform at their optimum too much will soften the rubber in the tread creating excessive wear due to abrasion with the road surface (scrubbing).

Operation At Low Temperatures

Low temperatures will not affect Tyre Protector’s formulation. It is frequently used at temperatures of -45 degrees centigrade in Scandinavia. Any exposure to colder weather will cause Tyre Protector to thicken, but not freeze. In extremely cold weather, the heat generated from friction in a rotating tyre will return Tyre Protector to normal consistency after driving for a short distance. Repairs already made by Tyre Protector will remain as permanent as they were before exposure to the cold. The repairs are resistant to moisture, heat and cold, and will flex just as the tyre will in high or low temperatures.

Tyre Protector Enhances Tyre Life.

Fleet owners have serious problems with tyres. They are desperate to keep air in the tyres and keep vehicles moving. This is where Tyre Protector excels.

Safety

A Tyre Sealant must be chemically benign. That is nontoxic, nonhazardous, non-flammable and biodegradable. Tyre Protector is all of these and is totally environmentally safe.

Compatibility

Tyre Protector is in total harmony with all elements present in tyres. It is a requirement that a sealant be tested before use and then after 25,000 miles use. This affirms that the sealant will not cause problems later. Tyre Protector has been tested and meets all the specifications required. Rust inhibitors and fungicides are present in Tyre Protector to ensure its compatibility with all tyre components.

Dependability

A Tyre Sealant manufacturer that is honest will have no hesitation in guaranteeing the integrity of it’s product by producing genuine documentation as proof that their product meets or exceeds the specifications laid down to any fleet operator for their general inspection.

Contamination

Tyre Protector will never fail to perform as claimed provided that all guidelines are followed. The formulation can withstand many adverse conditions with one major exception: WATER! An excessive amount of water or oil getting inside the tyre will break down the thixotropic properties and render the composition useless.

Puncturing Objects

The limit of Tyre Protector’s ability to permanently seal punctures made by a puncturing object larger than 6 mm in diameter in cars and puncturing objects larger than 12 mm in diameter in commercial vehicles has been set to provide a safety factor in Tyre Protector’s formulation. It has been established that a wound made by a puncturing object larger than 6 mm in cars or 12 mm in commercial vehicle tyres could, in fact, be dangerous. Thus, Tyre Protector’s formulation was designed to bleed through any wound if the structural integrity of the tyre was weakened.

Tyre Protector will not mask or hide structural damage. Any tyre receiving a wound that has structurally weakened the tyre, regardless of how small the wound is will slowly lose air. This safety factor alerts the driver that he has a major problem with the tyre and must have the problem resolved immediately.

Tyre Protector cannot be used to repair a puncture wound after the tyre has been punctured. Tyre Protector is NOT an ‘after puncture repair kit’.

Country Managers must remember that Tyre Protector has been formulated such that if sealant (and air) leaks from a tyre then the tyre has received a major wound beyond the capabilities of the product. If air alone leaks from a tyre (where the puncturing object falls within the limits) then insufficient sealant was installed and the Technician will be liable for any guarantee claims.

Recommendations And Accreditations

Tyre Protector is the only Tyre Sealant in the World that has received accreditation from Tyre Manufacturers. During the production of the Tyre Protector DVD the Managing Director of Continental Tyres in Norway described Tyre Protector as an astonishing product that could help them reduce costs to their customers.

Co-operation and acknowledgement to the effectiveness and performance of Tyre Protector has also been received from Michelin and Good Year.

Tyre Protector is used extensively in military and government applications and is recommended by several government departments including the Road Transport department in Ghana.

Tyre Protector And Rubber Latex Sealants - A Comparison

Tyre Protector Sealant / Rubber Latex Sealant
Base / Rubber particles in glycol based adhesive / Rubber latex and liquid gas
Packaging / 25 litre drums / Aerosol can (pressure 5 atm)
Storage / Unlimited / Over 1 year
Usage / Before (in tyre) / After puncture
Inflation of Tyre / To be done separately / Automatically from pressure in can
Condition inside Tyre / Stays liquid / Solidifies
Tyre Unbalance / None (tyre must be balanced before use). / Possible
Chemical Reaction / None / Yes, rubber coagulates vulcanises
Permanent Seal / Yes, for the legal life of the tyre. / No
Freeze Stable / Yes / No
Seals Rim Leaks / Yes (industrial applications) / Yes
Types of tyres / All tubeless tyres cars, trucks, motorcycles,
bicycles, etc. / Car and truck tyres only

Questions And Answers

Q - What is Tyre Protector?

A – Tyre Protector is a Propylene Glycol water soluble tyre sealant that when installed in a tyre will provide protection against air loss for the full legal life of the tyre.

Q - How does it seal a wound in the tread of the tyre?

A – Tyre Protector lays down a thin protective coating between the tyre and the air within the tyre. When an object penetrates the tread area the air pressure within the tyre forces the sealant into the puncture wound.

Q - How does it prevent rim/bead leaks in Industrial applications?

A - The air pressure within the tyre forces the sealant towards any weak point. As Tyre Protector travels ahead of the air, it locates and seals any potential leakage area thus ensuring no loss of air pressure.

Q - What is the shelf life of Tyre Protector?

A - Indefinite providing the container is kept sealed and no evaporation occurs.

Q - Does a penetrating object need to be removed even though Tyre Protector has prevented a flat tyre?

A – Unless the puncturing object is in danger of causing secondary damage it should be left alone. If you intend to remove a screw, you must unscrew it do not pull it, as this will tear the rubber and possibly the steel belts. If the object is small and buried in the tyre (e.g. nail with head missing) then leave it. Be sure to rotate the tyre as soon as the object is removed so that Tyre Protector will reseal the wound.

Q - Must a tyre be run after a penetrating object has been removed?

A - Yes. Although Tyre Protector has covered the area left by the cavity, it has not entered it, therefore the tyre must be run in order to snap open the cavity and allow Tyre Protector to enter. Once again, the vehicle must be driven after removal of the object.

Q - Will Tyre Protector settle in the drum and need to be stirred?

A - NO! Its ingredients are bonded together in such a manner that it is impossible for them to settle to the bottom.