Flat Proofing Spare Tire Sealant

KennyG · Mar 27, 2016

I have a old (40 years) car that's kind of hobby/project. It didn't have a spare, so I found a rim (new) that fit it and mounted one of the tires I recently replaced. The tire looks new but I replaced it because it was 13 years old. I now have a leak around the bead on one side. I mounted it by hand so I may have been a little rough on the bead. Any ideas on sealing the leak? In the past I've used Slime on bicycle and motorcycle tires and all it seemed to do was make a mess. How will sealants work on a tire that isn't being driven? If I break the bead loose is there anything I can do to get a better seal. Everything was 100% clean when I mounted it. I'm kind of at a loss on this because it's something I haven't run into before.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Raised on a Deere · Mar 28, 2016

I once had a tubeless tire that had been repaired several times for punctures and the bead was pretty badly torn up from so many tire iron removals. It developed a bead leak so I broke the bead, laid down a bead of ultra gray on the exposed bead and aired it up enough to reseat the bead and let the air out to just a few psi over night then aired it up and is held.

I have since done that a time or two on my riding mower tires.

KennyG · Apr 8, 2016

Some feedback. I tried Permatex and it worked. If I had to do it again, I might look for something clear. It pushed some sealant out when the bead resealed and I couldn't get it cleaned up well. However, it does hold air.

stuckmotor · Apr 8, 2016

What variety of Permatex did you use? Last time I had your problem I put a tube in the tire at a cost of around $25.00.

As for the sealant in an aerosol can. Around thirty years ago a guy who worked for a tire store recommended it and I tried several cans. They pumped the tire up and it went back down in short order. Hopefully the stuff works better these days.

FTG-05 · Apr 9, 2016

A poor man's beadlock often used by rock crawlers: roofing tar cement. Debead the tire, spread the cement around the rim area, rebead, reinflate to about 60 psi (temporarily) and wipe any that oozes out.

good luck.

KennyG · Apr 9, 2016

stuckmotor said:
What variety of Permatex did you use? Last time I had your problem I put a tube in the tire at a cost of around $25.00.

I used the Permatex gray "moto-seal" because it's meant to come back apart. I didn't want the tire permanently sealed to the rim. I paid about $7 for a tube and used perhaps 1/4 of it. I broke the bead and smeared it on the tire bead. Only one bead leaked, so I didn't break the other one free.

Sawyer Rob · Apr 9, 2016

I just bought my second gallon of slime...

I bought it to "seal the bead" on two tires I have. The first gallon lasted me years and worked so good that, that's why I bought a second gallon!

BTW, The two tires are now holding air just fine!

SR