Tubeless tyres have made punctures much less of a hassle. For many riders, a thorn or small cut seals itself before they even realise it happened. But with different formulas for mountain bikes, gravel bikes and road bikes, choosing a sealant can be a little confusing.
The good news is that you don’t need to overthink it. Choose a sealant suited to your tyres and riding, use the recommended amount and check it regularly.
How Does Tubeless Sealant Work?
Tubeless sealant is a liquid that sits inside your tyre. When a small puncture happens, air pressure pushes the sealant towards the hole, where it helps form a plug. It also helps seal small gaps around the tyre bead and porous sections of the tyre casing, helping your setup hold air.
Sealant works best as part of a compatible tubeless setup: tubeless-ready tyres, suitable rims, airtight rim tape and tubeless valves. It won’t fix every puncture, so we still recommend carrying a repair kit and a way to inflate your tyre.
Which Sealant Should You Choose?
| Your Riding | Our Suggestion | Why Choose It? |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain biking and e-MTB | Muc-Off MTB Tubeless Sealant | Designed for mountain bike tyres and the lower pressures used on the trail. |
| Road, gravel and cyclocross | Muc-Off Road & Gravel Tubeless Sealant | Formulated for smaller-volume tyres and the higher pressures often used on road and gravel bikes. |
| A mix of bikes | Stan’s Original Tubeless Sealant | A proven all-rounder for road, gravel and mountain bikes. |
| One sealant for the whole household | Vittoria Universal Tubeless Tyre Sealant | Suitable for a wide range of bikes, including e-bikes, and compatible with tyre inserts. |
| A plant-based option | Effetto Mariposa Vegetalex | A latex-free, plant-based option for tubeless tyres, tubular tyres and inner tubes. |
| Race-focused riding | Stan’s Race Day Tyre Sealant | For riders who place a high priority on puncture sealing when racing. |
What’s the Difference Between Sealants?
Mountain Bike Sealant
Mountain bike tyres have a larger air volume and generally run at lower pressures than road tyres. MTB-specific sealants are made with those conditions in mind, using sealing particles to help deal with the thorns and cuts you might pick up on the trail.
Muc-Off MTB Tubeless Sealant is a good place to start for trail bikes, e-MTBs and riders who spend their time on rougher terrain.
Our Thoughts: If most of your riding is on a mountain bike, an MTB-specific sealant is an easy choice. It’s also worth carrying a plug kit for cuts that need a bit more help.
Road and Gravel Sealant
Road tyres usually run at higher pressures, which can make it harder for a puncture to seal before too much air escapes. Gravel tyres often sit somewhere between road and mountain bike tyres in both volume and pressure.
Muc-Off Road & Gravel Tubeless Sealant is formulated for these smaller-volume, higher-pressure setups. It’s a sensible choice for road, gravel and cyclocross bikes.
Our Thoughts: If you ride a road bike at relatively high pressure, don’t expect every hole to seal instantly. A plug kit and an emergency tube are still worth carrying.
All-Round Sealant
If you have a mountain bike, a gravel bike and a commuter in the garage, an all-round sealant keeps things simple.
Stan’s Original Tubeless Sealant is a familiar choice that works across road, gravel and mountain bike tyres. Its free-flowing formula can be poured into the tyre or added through a suitable removable-core valve.
Vittoria Universal Tubeless Tyre Sealant is another versatile option for road, gravel, mountain bike and e-bike tyres. It is natural latex-free and compatible with tyre inserts.
Our Thoughts: An all-round sealant is a good choice for a household with several types of bike. Buy a bottle size that suits how many tyres you maintain, then follow the dosage for each tyre.
Latex-Free and Plant-Based Options
Many sealants use latex to help form a seal, while others use different ingredients. If you want to avoid natural latex, check the product description carefully rather than assuming every sealant uses the same formula.
Effetto Mariposa Vegetalex is a plant-based, latex-free sealant. It can also be used in compatible inner tubes and tubular tyres.
Vittoria Universal is another natural latex-free option.
Race Sealant
Race-focused sealants are aimed at riders who put a high priority on sealing punctures quickly. Some formulas use larger particles and can have different installation or maintenance requirements from everyday sealants.
Stan’s Race Day Tyre Sealant is an option for riders looking at a race-focused setup. Before fitting any race sealant, check the manufacturer’s directions for how to install it and how often to inspect it.
Our Thoughts: For most recreational riders, a good all-round or discipline-specific sealant will be the straightforward choice. If you race regularly, a race formula may be worth considering.
Using Vittoria Tyres?
If you’re running Vittoria tubeless tyres, use Vittoria Universal Tubeless Tyre Sealant unless Vittoria specifies another compatible product for your particular tyre.
It is an ammonia-free option suitable for road, gravel and mountain bike tyres. Vittoria specifies ammonia-free sealant for its Corsa N.EXT and Corsa PRO tyres and advises that incompatible sealants can damage the tyre. Damage caused by an incompatible sealant may not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Our Thoughts: If you have Vittoria tyres and aren’t sure which sealant to use, Vittoria Universal is the straightforward choice. It’s also compatible with tyre inserts and can be used across a range of bikes.
How Much Sealant Do I Need?
The right amount depends on the sealant, tyre width and wheel size. A wide mountain bike tyre needs more than a narrow road tyre and manufacturers’ recommendations differ.
| Tyre Type | Typical Starting Amount |
|---|---|
| Road | 30–60 ml |
| Gravel | 60–90 ml |
| XC mountain bike | 60–90 ml |
| Trail and enduro mountain bike | 90–120 ml |
| Plus, downhill and high-volume tyres | 120–150 ml or more |
These are general starting points only. Always use the quantity recommended by the sealant manufacturer for your tyre size.
Don’t assume that the amount used for one brand will be right for another. If you’re unsure, bring your bike into the workshop and we can help you choose the right amount.
How Often Should I Check It?
Sealant doesn’t last forever. It can dry out or lose effectiveness over time, and the rate depends on the formula, tyre casing, weather and how the bike is stored.
Check it at least every few months, and more often during hot weather or if your tyres seem to be losing air faster than usual. Give the wheel a shake and listen for liquid, or remove the valve core and use a clean dipstick where practical.
A tyre can still hold air when the sealant inside has dried out. Top up with the same compatible sealant when needed. If you’re changing brands or formulas, check the manufacturer’s advice first. When in doubt, clean out the old sealant before adding the new one.
Choosing and Maintaining Tubeless Valves
Tubeless valves seal against the rim and let you inflate your tyre and, with many sealants, add or check sealant through the valve. Choosing the right valve makes setup and maintenance much easier.
Choose the Right Length
Make sure the valve is long enough to extend through your rim and leave enough room to attach your pump. Deeper-section road and gravel rims need longer valves than most mountain bike rims.
If you’re replacing an existing valve, measure its length and check that it gives your pump head enough room to grip.
Check the Valve Base
The rubber base needs to sit securely against the inside of your rim to make an airtight seal. Some valves come with different rubber bases to suit different rim profiles. Check compatibility with your rims before ordering, particularly if they use a specific valve design.
Look for a Removable Valve Core
A removable core makes it easier to add compatible sealant through the valve and allows more airflow when seating a tyre. It also makes cleaning or replacing a blocked core straightforward.
Some sealants contain larger particles and need to be poured directly into the tyre, so check the sealant manufacturer’s instructions first.
Useful Sealant Installation Tools
A couple of simple tools can make adding or topping up sealant much cleaner.
The Stan’s Valve Core Remover Tool removes compatible Presta and Schrader valve cores. Removing the core creates a larger opening for adding sealant and improves airflow when seating a tubeless tyre. It is also useful for removing a core that has become restricted by dried sealant.
The Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector V2 lets you measure and inject up to 150 ml of compatible sealant through a removable-core Presta or Schrader valve without unseating the tyre. Its graduated body makes it easier to add the correct amount with less mess.
Important: The Stan’s Injector V2 is compatible with Stan’s Original and Rolled Gold sealants, but it should not be used with Stan’s Race Day Sealant. Race Day contains larger sealing particles that can block the injector and should be poured directly into the tyre.
Our Thoughts: A valve-core tool is one of the most useful small items to keep with your tubeless gear. Add an injector if you regularly maintain several bikes or want a cleaner way to measure and top up compatible sealant.
Using CushCore or Another Tyre Insert?
A standard tubeless valve can be blocked by a tyre insert. Insert-compatible valves have openings that allow air to flow around the foam.
If you’re using CushCore Pro, use the compatible valves supplied with the insert where included or choose a suitable replacement such as CushCore Valves.
Keep Valves Clear
Sealant can build up inside a valve over time, making it harder to inflate the tyre or causing slow leaks. If airflow becomes restricted, remove and clean the valve core or replace it.
When removing a pump head, check that the core remains snug, particularly with a thread-on pump.
Our Thoughts: A reliable valve is a small part of your tubeless setup, but it makes a big difference when it’s time to inflate a tyre or top up sealant. Choose the right length, keep the core clean and use insert-compatible valves if you’re running CushCore.
Can I Use Sealant in an Inner Tube?
Some sealants are suitable for inner tubes, but not every tubeless sealant is designed for them. Check the label before using it and make sure the valve allows you to add the sealant.
Vittoria Universal Tubeless Tyre Sealant and Effetto Mariposa Vegetalex are both listed as suitable for conventional inner tubes.
Why Use CushCore With Tyre Sealant?
CushCore Pro is a foam tyre insert that sits inside a tubeless mountain bike tyre, around the rim. It’s particularly useful for riders who regularly encounter rocks, roots and hard impacts.
CushCore can help:
- Protect the rim from some hard impacts
- Support the tyre sidewall when cornering
- Reduce tyre squirm and deflection on rough trails
- Let some riders use lower pressures while maintaining tyre support
You still need sealant. CushCore provides impact protection and tyre support while the sealant helps seal punctures and keep the tubeless system airtight. They work together, with the insert sitting inside the tyre alongside the sealant.
Who Should Consider CushCore?
CushCore is worth a look if you ride rocky trails, regularly hit your rims, want more tyre support or ride an e-MTB through rough terrain. Some riders fit it to both wheels while others start with the rear wheel, where impacts are often more common.
There is extra weight and fitting an insert takes more effort than a standard tubeless setup. It isn’t essential for every rider, but it can be a useful upgrade if rim strikes or tyre stability are regular concerns.
Check your tyre and rim widths before ordering. CushCore Pro is listed for 2.1–2.6-inch tyres and 22–35 mm internal rim widths. It also needs insert-compatible valves that allow air to pass around the foam.
Our Thoughts: If you’re mostly riding smooth cycle paths, you probably don’t need an insert. If your local trails are rocky and you’ve had a few rim strikes, CushCore and fresh sealant are a combination worth considering.
What Else Should You Carry?
Sealant takes care of many small punctures, but larger cuts can need a helping hand. We suggest carrying:
- A tubeless plug kit, such as the Dynaplug Micro Pro Repair Kit
- A pump or suitable CO₂ inflator
- An emergency inner tube that fits your wheel and tyre
- Tyre levers and a way to remove your tubeless valve
- A tyre boot for a larger cut
If you use CO₂, follow your sealant manufacturer’s instructions and check the sealant afterwards. For a badly damaged tyre or sidewall cut, a plug may only be a temporary repair.
Need a Hand?
If you’re not sure which sealant suits your bike, or your tubeless tyres need a refresh, bring your bike into Chain Reaction. We can help with sealant, tubeless setup and CushCore installation.
Visit us at 4/218 Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch, or call 03 943 4925. There are 200+ onsite car parks.
