Frequently asked questions

WHAT IS VIPSEAL?

VIPSEAL is a water-based sealant for tyres. Once it is installed inside a tyre, it will guarantee protection from air leaks for the tyre's entire lifespan. It covers and adheres to the inner surfaces of tyres and wheels. VIPSEAL is a unique viscous mixture of several chemicals. It is water-soluble, leaves behind no residue, and does not stick. VIPSEAL is non-flammable, non-volatile, non-toxic, and is not oil-based.

HOW DOES VIPSEAL WORK?

VIPSEAL is injected through the valve, and will stay liquid inside the tyre for the tyre's entire lifespan.  By covering the entire inner surface of the tyre and wheel, VIPSEAL protects the tyre's cord, seals up voids, prevents air leaks and protects the tyre from most bursts and punctures.

HOW DOES IT SEAL UP A HOLE ON THE TYRE'S TREADS?

VIPSEAL deposits a thin protective layer between the tyre and the air contained within it. Whenever an object penetrates the surface of the treads, the air pressure inside the tyre pushes the sealant into the damaged area.

HOW MUCH VIPSEAL IS NEEDED?

Calculating the maximum volume to inject requires two simple measurements with a measuring tape marked with millimetres (mm), giving a resulting volume in mL:

- Meas1: Width of the tread, taken between each end of the moulded portion of the tyre.
- Meas2: Interior diameter of the tyre, taken from the ends of the mouldings in the treads.

ON-ROAD VEHICLE < 3.5 T: MEAS1 X MEAS2 X 0.0030

ON-ROAD VEHICLE > 3.5 T: MEAS1 X MEAS2 X 0.0060

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE: MEAS1 X MEAS2 X 0.0120

GREEN VEHICLE: MES1 X MES2 X 0.0076

DOES VIPSEAL SAVE MONEY?

Yes!  The protection afforded by VIPSEAL on the tyre's inner treads prevents loss of pressure. Preventing pressure loss allows for substantial average savings of 3% in fuel consumption, and prolongs the tyre's lifespan by 20%. VIPSEAL acts as insurance against bursting or puncturing tyres on the road. It helps protect the environment by reducing the number of discarded tyres and excessive fuel consumption due to driving with a flat after a hole has formed. Safety is the watchword, so drive without worry.

IS IT EASY TO INSTALL VIPSEAL?

Yes!  For a private passenger car or a light-utility vehicle, applying VIPSEAL takes about 2 minutes per tyre. For a track, assume about 10 to 15 minutes per tyre, including visual inspecting their condition. It is necessary to obtain a valve stem tool and an air compressor to reinflate the tyre. 

DOES VIPSEAL CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BALANCE?

No!  VIPSEAL does not create any imbalances in mass or wheel balancing failures. However, in motorcycles and light vehichles, we highly recommend balancing all the tyres beforehand. If a problem already exists, VIPSEAL may highlight the problem, which will warn the drivers that there is a clear problem with a tyre, a rim, or the suspension.

ONCE IT IS INSTALLED, HOW LONG DOES VIPSEAL'S EFFECT LAST?

VIPSEAL guarantees effectiveness and protection for the tyre's entire lifespan.

WILL VIPSEAL FREEZE OR EVAPOURATE UNDER EXTREME CLIMATE CONDITIONS?

No!  VIPSEAL's formula includes an ethylene glycol base (the same as used in antifreeze), for protecting treads between –35 °C and +45 °C.  At temperatures lower than –40 °C, VIPSEAL may slightly thicken, but whenever the vehicle is driving, the tyres will gradually heat up due to normal friction, and VIPSEAL will quickly be back to its original viscosity.

HOW LONG IS VIPSEAL'S SHELF LIFE?

VIPSEAL may be stored for a maximum of 60 months (5 years), if it is not exposed to direct sunlight and is kept within temperatures of -35 °C to +45 °C.

WILL VIPSEAL COLLECT IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE TYRE?

No!  The thixotropic properties of VIPSEAL keep it from collecting.  Its thixotropic gel formula defies gravity and adheres to the tyre's entire inner surface.  VIPSEAL contains no adhesives, so no chemical changes in the tyres could endanger the protection it offers. The thixotropic gel also protects the formula from separating and changing. Very high and very low temperatures of tyre use, as well as the centrifugal force generated by high velocities, will not cause VIPSEAL to degrade.

CAN A TYRE TREATED WITH VIPSEAL BE REPAIRED?

Yes!  VIPSEAL is completely water-soluble. With a brush and water, clean/wash the entire surface of the treads. VIPSEAL contains no adhesives, so it can easily be removed from the tyre's surface. Afterwards, any major repairs may be made without requiring additional preparations.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER A HOLE CAN HAVE TO BE REPAIRABLE WITH VIPSEAL?

Holes caused by objects as large as 6mm in diameter may be plugged up on vehichles that weigh less than 3.5 tonnes, and up to 12mm in diameter on vehicles 3.5 tonnes or more.

HOW DOES VIPSEAL WORK WHEN A TYRE IS PUNCTURED?

If a puncture occurs, VIPSEAL covers the penetrating object and seals around its contours. When the penetrating object is ejected or removed, VIPSEAL flows into the hole, due to the capillary attraction of the escaping air. The hole left by the penetrating object is then plugged by VIPSEAL, which coagulates. The coagulated VIPSEAL is non-soluble and protects the inner structure from outside pollutants.

COULD VIPSEAL HIDE OR MASK A DANGEROUS PUNCTURE?

No!  In reality, VIPSEAL's unique formula is designed to deliberately allow air to escape in a controlled manner in the event of a dangerous puncture or a weakness in a tyre cord.  This is a safety measure that was considered when designing the formula for instances when a penetrating object has significantly damaged the tyre's inner structure.  Repairs made with VIPSEAL are as sturdy as the tyre itself, and will not hide or mask dangerous punctures to the tyre.

CAN VIPSEAL BE USED WITH INNER TUBE TYRES?

Yes! But protecting a tyre with an inner tube is not as effective and productive as for a tubeless tyre. The tube is in fact made up of a thin wall which rubs against the tyre, which itself is not sealed at the valve.

IS VIPSEAL BETTER THAN A TYRE PLUG?

Yes!  In most cases, VIPSEAL is better than a plug, because it is a preventive system that can extend the lifespan of tyres.  A plug is a repair made after the tyre has deflated, and in most cases, the tyre was driven over a certain distance while deflated.  Driving with a deflated radial tyre, even over short distances, can irreversibly and invisibly cause significant damage to the tyre cord. The "safety factor" is the main reason to use VIPSEAL sealant. It extends lifespan both for tyres and for the preventive maintenance system.

IS THERE A CHANCE VIPSEAL MIGHT EAT AWAY AT THE METALLIC STRUCTURE?

No! VIPSEAL's advanced coagulating and repairing properties have proven that the special anti-corrosion system protects against rust and corrosion. 

DOES VIPSEAL EAT AWAY AT RIMS?

No! VIPSEAL's anticorrosion system continuously prevents rust and corrosion.  VIPSEAL cannot remove rust or corrosion that is already present, but it neutralises it and prevents the damage from worsening.

Test of 40.232 km based on EEC principles regulation 30 :

The Test result with “VIPSEAL” done by Smithers Rapra Technology (World leading independent rubber plastic and composite consultants) in Great-Britain concludes in the technical report:

“…The 185/60 R14 tyre containing the sealant and penetrated with a 6mm diameter bradawl in three locations in its crown region, completed the test and retained its inflation pressure during the test schedule as outlined, therefore the VIPSEAL tyre sealant, had performed effectively as a puncture repair throughout the duration of the conducted 25k mile test….”

See the complete “ Test Rapra ” report.

IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE A PENETRATING OBJECT, EVEN WHEN VIPSEAL KEPT THE TYRE FROM BURSTING?

Always. Even if VIPSEAL has sealed around it, if the object stays inside the tyre, it will move as the tyre rotates, and will create a bigger hole until air can escape. If the object is a screw, you must unscrew it, not pull it out, because that would shred the rubber, as well as the steel cord.

DOES A TYRE HAVE TO DRIVE AFTER A PENETRATING OBJECT HAS BEEN REMOVED?

Yes. Even though VIPSEAL has covered the remaining surface of the hole, it has not flowed inside. The tyre must therefore be set in motion, in order to open up the cavity and allow VIPSEAL to penetrate inside. Once again, the tyre must be set in motion after removing the object.

DOES VIPSEAL CHEMICALLY REACT WITH RUBBER TYRES?

No. VIPSEAL is chemically inert.

IS VIPSEAL WATER-SOLUBLE?

Yes.

DOES VIPSEAL COLLECT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TYRE WHEN THE WHEEL ISN'T IN MOTION?

No. VIPSEAL contains special adhesives that enable the product to adhere to the inner surface of the tyre, except for a residual 25%, which is regularly dispersed on the tyre when it is moving.

WILL VIPSEAL SEAL A PREFORATION IN THE SIDES OF THE TYRE?

No. It might be able to seal the preforation, but owing to the sagging in the sides, a temporary plug will only be a safety measure.

WILL VIPSEAL FORM A FIRM PLUG IN THE SURFACE OF THE TYRE TREADS?

No. The plug is designed to be flexible, because tyres sag. If the plug were firm and did not sag along with the tyre, leaks would appear.

WILL VIPSEAL DRY INSIDE THE TYRE?

No. Because the tyre is a closed, sealed container, no liquid can evaporate, and it will remain in the same state that it was in when it was installed in the tyre.

COULD VIPSEAL CLOG UP THE TYRE VALVE WHEN IT IS BEING INJECTED?

In some cases, a chunk of polyethylene may create a clog, keeping the grains of rubber from entering. If this happens, remove the pump's connector to allow some air out, and then clean the valve's plug. Connect it again, and resume pumping.

CAN VIPSEAL BY INSTALLED WITH AN AIR PUMP?

Yes, but it would be difficult to measure how much is installed.

HOW MUCH VIPSEAL IS INJECTED WITH EACH PUMP?

Depending on the kind of pump, you can pump 100 or 200 mL per cycle with a 25-litre tank.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIPSEAL AND OTHER TYRE SEALANTS?

VIPSEAL is glycol-based; it cannot separate or dry out inside the tyre, unlike all other products, which set, cause balance problems and alter the composition of the tyre's rubber. When the product is correctly applied, VIPSEAL will not affect the tyre's balance.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIPSEAL AND OTHER PRODUCTS, SOLD IN SPRAY CANS?

Many of these products were designed to be "curative": They are inserted into the tyre after a puncture, and normally act as a temporary fix just so that you can make your way home. By contrast, VIPSEAL is a preventative product, and is injected before a puncture occurs.

IS VIPSEAL INFLAMMABLE?

No.

IS VIPSEAL TOXIC?

No.

HOW DOES VIPSEAL AFFECT THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY?

Since VIPSEAL does not react with the tyre's components, it cannot affect the manufacturer's warranty.

WHAT EFFECT DOES VIPSEAL HAVE ON TYRES?

VIPSEAL maintains air pressure, prevents punctures, air discharge, and leaks due to porousity. It also increases the tyre's lifespan.

CAN VIPSEAL BE INSTALLED ON USED TYRES?

Yes.

WHAT TYPES OF TYRES CAN VIPSEAL BE USED ON?

You can use VIPSEAL on any type of tyre.