Ultraseal | Frequently Asked Questions

Can Ultraseal hide or mask a dangerous puncture?

Answer
It is virtually impossible for Ultraseal to hide or mask a dangerous wound. 40+ years of worldwide usage and countless tests which have been performed have proven that Ultraseal will not seal a tyre that has received a wound that would weaken the tyre's inner structure to a point that could be dangerous. Ultraseal contains tiny strands of coarse surface synthetic fibres that are stronger than steel when they interlock tightly together, but will only positively seal small holes caused by puncturing objects from 5mm to 12mm in diameter (depending on grade installed), but only in a hole that is in the tread area of the tyre, and that is shrinking in size because there is no cord damage (rubber recovery), which is 95% of today's high speed punctures. Anything bigger, or in the sidewall, with or without cord damage, and the Ultraseal fibres just slowly bleed through the hole, giving a controlled deflation, and usually with a halt or abrupt slowdown in air pressure loss at the lower pressures of 10 to 15 psi (depending on cord damage) which prevents damaged rims, and helps the driver maintain control and possibly enabling continuation of the journey to remove the vehicle from a possibly dangerous location. The U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) in conjunction with the U.S. Army Proving Grounds in Yuma, AZ. (YPG) tested Utraseal and substantiated that Ultraseal "does not mask catastrophic failures". If a tyre receives a dangerous wound, Ultraseal allows air to bleed, providing additional time for the driver to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. This safety factor can reduce potential blowouts from becoming a dangerous situation. Many security and law enforcement fleets utilise Ultraseal for its ability to provide a high degree of safety and reliability rather than Ultraseal's cost savings and tyre life extension qualities.

Can Ultraseal be used in all types of tyres?

Answer
For the past 40 years, Ultraseal has been utilised in virtually every conceivable pneumatic tyre, accumulating millions of miles, in major fleets around the world, without any premature failure or adverse effects to the tyres or rims. Special situations with low profile high performance tyres may require assistance and support from the Ultraseal Technical Department prior to installation.

Will Ultraseal attack or corrode steel belts?

Answer
Ultraseal's advanced proprietary repair/clot and curing attributes have proven that the specialised rust inhibiting system protects steel belts against rust and corrosion. The unique ability to cure within a wound also protects the steel belts from outside contaminants. This proprietary attribute is available only with Ultraseal.

Can tyres treated with Ultraseal be retreaded?

Answer
Ultraseal is compatible with all retreading methods. Independent testing has proven that Ultraseal will retard aging in tyres. Ultraseal treated tyres exhibit greater rubber resilience when compared to untreated control tyres. Therefore, Ultraseal increases the casings ability to achieve additional retreading. This increased retreadability provides a lower cost per mile. Your professional retread company certifies casing soundness and retreadability.

Can Ultraseal be used in tyres with tubes?

Answer
Ultraseal will seal wounds in both tube and tubeless tyres as long as there is rubber recovery and it is not a dangerous wound. A tube is not one of man's most ingenious inventions, and is very unreliable. The tube is basically made of rubber and synthetics. The wall thickness of a tube is not uniform and rubber content is very critical in terms of elasticity and rubber recovery. A tube that does not contain a sufficient amount of natural rubber cannot recover (close up) after sustaining a wound. It is critical that there be rubber recovery to assure a positive secure repair/clot. By installing Ultraseal into a tube, the problem of punctures can be reduced. The seal in a tube is not permanent. Tubes squirm inside a tyre at high speed if the puncturing object is left in the tyre and tube, it may rip the tube. Then even Ultraseal may not able to help. We commend that nails be removed on a routine basis and the tyres air pressure be maintained at maximum PSI to reduce the squirming. When a tube is punctured, the size of the wound in the tube may be much larger than the actual puncturing object; also tubes are very susceptible to ripping.

Is Ultraseal strictly for sealing a damaged tyre?

Answer
Ultraseal is a preventative maintenance tyre additive and was designed primarily to be utilised prior to a tyre receiving damage from puncturing objects and/or interior damage caused from operating tyres under inflated. After installing Ultraseal, the vehicle is driven a minimum of 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km), however it is not imperative to drive the vehicle immediately. For Ultraseal to perform its preliminary functions, the tyre and Ultraseal must go through an initial conditioning period, at which time Ultraseal will have completely coated and conditioned the inner surfaces of the tyre/rim. When a puncture occurs, the Ultraseal coating encapsulates the puncturing object. When the puncturing object is removed or ejected, Ultraseal is drawn into the wound by the capillary action of the escaping air, the wound closes up (rubber recovery) thereby trapping the Ultraseal clot. The clot cures and becomes non water-soluble to protect the inner structure from outside contaminants. The Ultraseal clot is only as strong as the tyre and cannot hide or mask a dangerous wound.

Can Ultraseal maintain correct air pressure?

Answer
Independent laboratory testing has proven without a doubt that Ultraseal has the ability to eliminate porosity and air migration. One of the world's largest retread company's headquarters tested Ultraseal for air retention and positive sealing capabilities. It was reported that Ultraseal was the only tyre sealant that they had tested which provided 100% air retention. Although Ultraseal will maintain correct air pressure, we recommend that visual inspection be performed on a per trip basis and complete tyre examinations and air pressure inspections be performed at scheduled PM's.

Does Ultraseal extend tyre life and retard dry rot?

Answer
Independent laboratory tests have proven without a doubt that Ultraseal will retard aging within the inner structure of a tyre. Independent testing has also proven that Ultraseal will reduce heat and eliminate migrating air which is directly related to increased tyre and casing life.

Will Ultraseal seal sidewall punctures?

Answer
However, It is important to realise that Ultraseal cannot hide or mask a dangerous wound. Radial tyre sidewalls are much thinner in construction than the rest of the tyre. Even though there is some rubber recovery, if the wound has not weakened the structure of the tyre, it will seal. If the wound is dangerous, Ultraseal is designed to bleed and the tyre will deflate in a slow controlled manner. Regardless of the tyre, the sidewall is the most vulnerable area. Ultraseal does not guarantee positive secure seals on sidewall punctures.

Will Ultraseal eventually dry or ball up in the tyre?

Answer
Ultraseal'sThixogel™ protects against separation and formulation breakdown. Tyres exposed to normal operational temperatures and high speed will not cause Ultraseal to break down.

Will Ultraseal last as long as the tyre?

Answer
Ultraseal warranties Ultraseal Tyre Life Extender/sealer for the legal tread life of the tyre. Since 1969, Ultraseal Tyre Life Extender/sealer has never failed to provide tyre protection. Ultraseal's Thixogel™ enables the formulation to withstand heat, sheer and stress resulting from centrifugal force emanating from a rotating tyre/rim. Ultraseal's abilities & performance is not diminished with speed, distance or time.

Do you need to stir or mix Ultraseal prior to installing?

Answer
Ultraseal is thixotropic and does not separate. In fact in-depth testing by an over the road trucking company has proven that even after 100,000+ miles Ultraseal continues to remain in a thixotropic state and did not separate or ball up. Some tyre sealant marketers state that their sealant needs to be stirred or mixed prior to installing into a tyre. Their statement, as follows, does not substantiate reliability; Once the sealant is installed into a tyre, the tyre/rim assembly acts as a mixing machine and will keep their product properly mixed. False! A spinning tyre/rim assembly creates centrifugal forces and will readily and permanently separate the solids from the liquids. Therefore this type of tyre sealant will become ineffective, in a short period of time.

Must you fully deflate the tyre to apply Ultraseal?

Answer
Because of our specialist equipment, only a little air will be lost during installation, usually a couple of pounds, which can be corrected upon completion.

Does Ultraseal have a shelf life warranty?

Answer
Ultraseal certifies that when stored in factory sealed original containers, out of direct sunlight and in a temperature range of -07°C (+20°F) to +35°C (95°F) Ultraseal may be stored for at least 60 months (5 years).

Does Ultraseal cause out of balance problems?

Answer
Ultraseal cannot create an out of balance situation. If the tyre and rim are properly balanced prior to installing Ultraseal and neither is out of round, then there will not be a change in performance. Ultraseal does not balance tyres or rims. If a problem exists then Ultraseal may aggravate the situation, which acts as a safety warning alerting the driver that there is definitely a tyre, rim and/or suspension problem. Race car drivers attaining speeds up to 250 mph (400kph) have reported no vibrations or handling problems in tyres treated with Ultraseal.

Is Ultraseal compatible with tyre components?

Answer
Ultraseal's formulation is fully compatible with all components in any tyre. Ultraseal has been tested by independent laboratories fresh (new) and even after 40,000 miles, tests results prove Ultraseal exceeds all compatibility requirements.

Will Ultraseal rust or corrode rims?

Answer
Ultraseal's rust and corrosion inhibiting system continuously works to prevent rust or corrosion. Ultraseal cannot eliminate existing rust or corrosion, but will neutralise it and prevent any additional damage.

Can tyres treated with Ultraseal be repaired?

Answer
Ultraseal does not contain any adhesive or chemicals that would alter the tyre's integrity. Ultraseal is totally water-soluble in its liquid state and even when cured it can easily be removed from the interior of any tyre. All major repairs are performed by simply wiping the wound area with a damp cloth, then wipe dry and repair.

Does Ultraseal create a mess when a tyre is dismounted?

Answer
Ultraseal is a viscous gel-like liquid that does not flow like water. Approximately 80% of the minimum required application amount coats the entyre inner surface of the tyre/rim. The remaining 20% is considered the reserve, which does settle to the bottom only when a tyre is stationary. When dismounting a tyre containing Ultraseal, there is not enough product collected at the bottom that would allow it to splash out. If the mechanic breaks the bead prior to releasing all the air from the tyre, the Ultraseal around the bead/rim attempts to prevent the air from escaping, resulting in a small amount of Ultraseal blowing out, as the bead breaks away from the rim. To prevent this from happening, release all of the air pressure prior to breaking the bead. Once a mechanic understands the simple basics on handling Ultraseal there is never a problem.

Will Ultraseal repair large wounds?

Answer
Ultraseal seals wounds measured by the size of the puncturing object, not the size of the wound. Regardless of how small a puncture may be, if the puncturing object has extensively damaged the tyres integrity, the wound will continue to bleed air and Ultraseal. This is a safety factor designed into the proprietary Ultraseal formulation. Ultraseal's commercial/industrial grade will seal wounds made by puncturing objects up to and including 1/4" in diameter. Ultraseal's Extra Heavy Duty grade for slow moving off road vehicles will seal wounds made by puncturing objects up to 3/8" diameter.

Is Ultraseal a permanent repair?

Answer
The Tyre Industry claims that "permanent repair" refers to a tyre repair that is permanently attached to the wound area by means of adhesives and/or vulcanisation. Although Ultraseal's seals are positive secure seals that remain airtight for the life of the tyre, Ultraseal is not a glue or adhesive. The proprietary formulation is designed to bleed air and Ultraseal if a tire has received major structural damage, therefore for safety reasons the permanency of an Ultraseal seal is contingent on the integrity of the tire.