Slime Pro Tubeless Sealant

Slime Pro Tubeless Sealant is designed to do just that: seal your tubeless tyres onto rims. It also helps prevent punctures. If you've taken the leap to tubeless on your road bike, this stuff is very good indeed.

While tubeless tyres are common in the mountain bike world (and virtually universal on cars and motorbikes), the technology still hasn't really caught on for roadies. The reasons are legion, and the pros and cons of tubeless were discussed at great length when we reviewed some Hutchinson Intensive tubeless tyres here on road.cc last year. In fact, the discussion continues:

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Without going into that discussion again, for those that do use tubeless tyres, then Slimepro sealant is good stuff. It does two separate jobs - seals the tyre to the rim, and helps repair punctures – and it does them both very well. In layman's terms it works by turning from a liquid to a solid when pushed through a small hole, effectively plugging that hole and making it airtight.

(Note. We're talking tubeless tyres here, not tubular tyres, which are a totally different thing.)

We tested the Slimepro Tubeless Sealant on those same Hutchinson Intensives, fitted to some Fulcrum Racing 3 Two-way tubeless wheels, using the following technique: Fit one bead of the tyre onto the rim; tip in the recommended 45ml of sealant, spin the wheel once gently; fit the other bead as usual; pump up tyre. The Slimepro sealed the small gaps between the tyre bead and the rim, and a track pump was enough the inflate the tyre. There was no need for a CO2 canister or airline. So on the fitting aspect, as far as our test tyres and rims are concerned, this sealant works.

On the other aspect – puncture protection – this sealant also works. With the tyre pumped up to 80psi, we stuck in a drawing pin and then rode the bike around the streets for a few minutes. The pressure dropped to 60psi then pretty much stabilised. It was definitely possible to keep riding.

Next, we pulled out the pin, and spun the wheel in the bike (to distribute the sealant on the inside), then started riding again. The pressure dropped to 50psi then stabilised as the sealant squeezed through the pin-hole and solidified. Then we pumped up the tyre to 100psi and five hours later it had dropped by only about 10psi – part of which was caused by attaching the pump again to check the pressure. So on the puncture repair aspect, Slimepro Sealant also works.

Despite the name, and unlike other products from the same manufacturer, Slimepro Tubeless Sealant isn't actually that slimey. It's much more liquidy. And it's white, not the trademark green of most other Slime products. It does leave a milky residue on the edge of the tyre and rim after fitting, but this is easily wiped off.

The recommended retail price for a 16oz (473ml) bottle of Slimepro Tubeless Sealant is a penny under 20 quid, although you can find it discounted down to £15 or less at your local bike shop and the usual on-line stores. This compares against similar stuff from Eclipse and Stans (both about £15 for about 500ml) or Effetto (£25 for 100ml).

Verdict

Seals tyres to rims, and helps prevent punctures.Good stuff if you've made the leap to tubeless on your road bike.