Having had two punctures this summer it’s a something that does concern me.
I have been talking with the UK importer of a “gunk” that is permanently added to the tyre and is designed to seal punctures when they happen. I’ve haven’t done it yet for a number of reasons:
•I’ve had people tell me stories or similar stuff settling and making a vehicle impossible to drive (because of wheel balance issues), but the importer assures me this is not the case.
•The “gunk” is used mainly on heavy trucks and construction equipment ie relatively slow moving vehicles. The importer tells me their stuff is used on racing cars.
•My car does not get much usage during winter months and I’m concerned about settlement occurring due to months of storage.
•Because the sealant is a permanent fix it would be sensible to check the tyres regularly for nails etc.
•I have to provide the F & r tyre dimensions because the volume of sealant has to be calculated for the specific size of tyre.
•I haven’t rushed at over the summer because if it goes wrong it’s going to be a real pain to fix.
I do carry a tin of “gunk” in the car, but it’s not from Halfords etc. I have tried using one in the past and found it useless unless you jack the car up and can re-inflate the tyre. I had a Halford’s can of tyre puncture sealant go off in my modern and it created a very sticky mess.
For the MkIV I bought a tyre inflation pack from BMW, it comes in a neat bag and includes a tin of sealant, a tool to remove the valve, spare valves and an electric air pump. The repair bag should also include a photo of me with my fingers crossed because that’s how it feels.
If I take the plunge and try the permanent “gunk” I’ll post the outcome on the forum.
