Why should we consider the best tyre sealants in the event of a puncture? Even with cars with the very best tyres fitted to them, tyre sealants have largely replaced spares and as a means of addressing a puncture. They are an easy, fast, and effective means to do so.
Tyre sealant is an adhesive gel. It gets injected into the punctured tyre via the tyre’s valve with a compressor. This compressor may have been supplied with your car when it came out of the factory, but if you don’t have one, you can easily purchase one in a kit and subsequently top up with sealant if and when you need to. Once inside the tyre, the sealant gel will fill the inside, sealing the puncture in the process. The tyre can then be pumped up with a tyre inflator.
Tyre sealant is an effective temporary fix for punctures. They allow you to get off the hard shoulder and to the nearest garage. It’s here where you to get a replacement tyre or permanent puncture repair. They are not a permanent fix. Most are rated for driving no more than 100 or so miles. This applies to all sorts of rubber, from summer tyres to more grippy winters. They replaced both full and space saver spare tyres in cars for one main reason: weight. Saving weight means better fuel economy, but it also frees up more room in the boot of cars.
The best tyre sealants at a glance:
Editor’s pick: AirMan Tyre Sealant – Buy from Amazon.
Best value tyre sealant: Slime Emergency Flat Tyre Sealant – Buy from Amazon.
Best tyre sealant for agricultural vehicles: OKO Off-Road Tyre Sealant – Buy from Amazon.
What’s more, it doesn’t matter if you’re running a set of all-season tyres or not. There are limitations in terms of the puncture size that sealants can deal with. Most are capable of dealing with punctures of around 6mm (or a quarter of an inch). If you have a large blowout, you’re going to need to call roadside assistance.
The best tyre sealants
Editor's pick
The sealant is non-toxic and water-based and can be rinsed out to allow for a proper puncture repair. The volume of sealant here is 450ml - enough for wheels up to 21". If your car has smaller wheels, there is a smaller kit suitable for wheels 17" or smaller.
It can be used with any standard tyre compressor, covers a hole up to 6mm, and you can drive 125 miles before having to visit a tyre repair specialist.
Pros
- Great value
- The same sealant as you'll find in the AirMan kit
Cons
- If you don't have a kit, it won't be for you
| Max puncture size | 6mm |
| Max driving distance | 125 miles |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Safe |
Best tyre sealant with repair kit
Rrp: £40.00
Rrp: £40.00
The AirMan brand is used by a number of car manufacturers themselves, including Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, and Volvo. It comes with a compressor and is an all-in-one system where the sealant is pumped into the tyre by the compressor and very effective.
Pros
- Popular piece of kit used by manufacturers
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Not ideal if you have wheels bigger than 21 inches
| Max puncture size | 6mm |
| Max driving distance | 125 miles |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Safe |
Best comprehensive tyre sealant kit
Rrp: £49.99
Rrp: £49.99
Like the AirMan gel, this can also be removed in order to undertake a permanent puncture repair, but Slime advises it needs to be removed within three days.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Effective sealant
Cons
- Needs to be removed soon afterwards
| Max puncture size | 6mm |
| Max driving distance | 100 miles |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Safe |
Best for light non-highway vehicles
Rrp: £19.99
Rrp: £19.99
It will cover punctures up to 6mm and comes in a healthy 946ml bottle - which is twice the size of some of the other sealants on this list. So, if you have a caravan or trailer with a puncture, this is the sealant you'll need.
Pros
- Comes in big bottle
- Ideal for small all-terrain or trailer vehicles
Cons
- Won't suit bigger stuff like tractors
| Max puncture size | 6mm |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Not for use |
Best universial tyre sealant
Rrp: £22.47
Rrp: £22.47
They are reliable and effective. The sealant is almost identical to that of the AirMan sealant. It is non-toxic and can be used with most tyre inflators.
Pros
- Non-toxic
- Incredibly effective
Cons
- Not ideal if you don't own a kit
| Max Puncture size | 6mm |
| Max driving distance | 125 miles |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Safe |
Best value tyre sealant
Being a specialist in tyre repairs, you can trust Slime to dig deep inside your damaged tyre and fill the hole with ease. It's not recommended for use on larger vehicles (SUVs are deemed the maximum size according to Slime), and you are only recommended to drive 3 days or 100 miles before visiting a garage. Other sealants allow you to go just that little bit further.
Pros
- Very effective sealant
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Driving range is shorter than others
| Max puncture size | 6mm |
| Max driving distance | 100 miles |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Safe |
Best tyre sealant for agricultural vehicles
Rrp: £12.97
Rrp: £12.97
It can deal with any hole up to 10mm, but you have to insert it before a puncture happens. The sealant will only act once a hole has been created. Think of it really as a preventative measure.
Pros
- Ideal for tractors
- Easy to use
Cons
- Only for use on a few specified vehicles
| Max puncture size | 10mm |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system | Not for use |
How to use tyre sealants
It’s easier than changing a tyre or upgrading to a set of new ones like eco tyres. Depending on the brand of sealant, you will either insert the sealant first and then inflate a tyre. Or it’ll be an all-in-one, where you plug in the compressor’s 12V plug into the car’s socket. You then attach the bottle of sealant to the compressor, attach the compressor to the tyre valve and switch on the compressor. The tyre will both be repaired and inflated. However, if specified, the sealant will have to be inserted into the tyre prior to a puncture. These sealants act as a protective layer against tyre damage and will not work after a puncture has happened. This usually applies to heavy-duty or agricultural vehicles, which tend to be moving over rough surfaces.
Further information
The maximum distance one can drive on a repaired tyre is a guideline. There are factors that vary this, so it pays to drive as little distance as possible on the repaired tyre. Even if you have the best tyre inflator at your disposal, you can only use these things to limp yourself to a garage. For example, a puncture that is positioned in the middle tread will be easier to seal and stronger than one on the sidewall. And naturally, larger punctures are a bit harder to seal and will not last as long as smaller ones.
Tyre sealants do have expiry dates. It certainly pays not to use a sealant that has gone beyond its expiry date because it will be less likely to properly plug a puncture effectively. Some manufacturers will even advise that some tyre sealants has to be rinsed and removed after a certain amount of time. This is to allow for a professional repair by the specialist. You can think of it as patching up a wound before visiting a hospital for full medical attention. It will also help (if the product allows) to monitor your tyres using a good tyre pressure monitor after you’ve used the sealant. This will ensure the trip to the garage is a safe one.
Chris Williams is an Automotive Content Writer for Parkers and CAR Magazine, he trained as an automotive journalist in New Zealand, prior to which he studied International Relations and History.
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