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review

Tufo Sealant Extreme

8
£4.74

VERDICT:

8
10
Ronseal don't make tyre sealant, but if they did it would probably be a lot like this. Does exactly what it needs to do. All my tubs now have a healthy dose.
Weight: 
1g
Contact: 
www.tufo.com

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Tufo's Tyre Sealant Extreme does what it says on the tin and that is all it needs to do.

Tufo tubular tyres, unlike other brands, cannot be unstitched and repaired in the traditional way. That means if you are a Tufo user you are pretty reliant on this stuff. For those of you used to an overflowing saddlebag crammed full of roadside repair paraphernalia it will take some bottle to use this stuff. No tubes, no patch kit, no tyre levers; you can be forgiven for feeling naked when heading out of the door with just your bottle of sealant for protection. Thankfully, it does just the job.

Tufo's Tyre Sealant Extreme has come up trumps sealing in two different scenarios, despite saying clearly in the instructions this is for post puncture application only. First, as prescribed, post-puncture roadside sealant retro-fit, followed by furious mini-pump action. Second, one month after sealant injection, the original dose of gunk still was liquid enough to plug the gap - impressive.

It was the latter situation that truly revealed the stickiness of this stuff. Riding along I was picking up a faint spray on my legs, initially thinking it was an open bottle cap. It turned out to be sealant - everywhere. The hole sealed not too many metres down the road but the residue now covering the down tube and my arm lasted for days like a commemorative brown henna tattoo. Who knows how many smaller punctures the front tyre had endured without this elaborate Catherine wheel spray of sealant.

On the downside, given that this is designed for in-the-field application, the cap was rather fiddly, small and easily lost. It went missing after the first roadside application meaning riding with an open bottle delicately balanced in your jersey. Also, if you are relying on this to get you home, don't forget to pack the valve tool; one is included in the kit although it had gone missing by the time the test sample got to me. I'm sure you will be able to keep hold of your valve tool and enjoy even better performance. With a non-loseable style cap which incorporated a valve tool this would be a genuine 5 star product.

Verdict

Ronseal don't make tyre sealant, but if they did it would probably be a lot like this. Does exactly what it needs to do. All my tubs now have a healthy dose.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Tufo Sealant Extreme

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Tubular tyre sealant. A potential life saver (rim) for tub users.

"Very highly effective product for repair of flats of all TUFO tyres. It can be used after getting a flat ONLY. Application through the valve stem or valve opening."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Brown gunky stuff in a tube - not the most technical of details so here are the manufacturers instructions

"FLAT REPAIR

1. Shake wheel before use!

2. Turn the wheel to place the valve in 8 o'clock position

3. Using the valve tool, unscrew the valve core from the valve stem

4. Insert the applicator into the valve stem and squeeze in about 1/3 (road tyres)

5. Screw the valve core back into the valve stem

6. Turn the wheel to give the sealant a chance to get to the puncture spot

7. Inflate the tyre and continue riding

8. If the puncture is larger, infl ate the tyre slightly, the sealant should not be leaking out, continue riding after the sealant dries. If necessary, repeat the procedure."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Can still achieve high pressure inflation after sealing

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Perfectly - did the job whenever it was asked to.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It works.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Cap and valve tool arrangement - see article.

Did you enjoy using the product? No - you never enjoy having a puncture  1

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 5ft 11in  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF  My best bike is: Canyon LUX MR/ Grand Canyon CF

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, mtb,

 

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1 comments

Avatar
monty dog | 11 years ago
0 likes

First time I used this, I was impressed. Picked up a 2mm+ glass-cut in a brand new Tufo Cubus CX tub on the first lap or the first race of the season. Not wishing to junk a £60 tyre with less than 2km or riding I got a bottle of this stuff - first attempt with the recommended half-bottle didn't quite take so put the rest in and it held fast. I've continued to use the tyre ever since - recommended.

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