In this article I will review the Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant with Fiberfoam Technology and the Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant Replenisher. Basically this is 2-step system to keep your tubeless wheels spinning for a year with the least amount of punctures and at lower pressures.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant – Step 1
Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant is step 1 in this 2-step system. On the product page you can read some interesting details:
Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant uses the power of a foaming latex formula combined with chopped carbon fibers to boost sealing power even at higher pressures. Ultimate Tubeless Sealant contains 5% by volume, 6, 9, and 12mm chopped carbon fibers which have been reclaimed from recycled bicycles, carbon wheels, racecars, and aircraft components. A unique foaming latex formula allows for the very lightweight carbon fibers to be evenly dispersed within the sealant while riding, which allows for a higher fiber content […] This dam of high stiffness/high strength fibers has been shown to seal holes in testing up to 7.5mm, some 25% larger than conventional technologies.
This superior sealing ability and hole reinforcing ability of the carbon fiber also allows for a higher concentration of anti-freeze agents in the sealant which means more effective sealing at low temperatures (6 mm holes seal at -7 C), as well as longer lasting sealant (7 – 9 months depending on humidity).
While this can sound like just a cool marketing talk, there is a Silca YouTube video out there where Josh (Silca employee) explains that the company has re-thought the complete mechanics of tubeless sealant. Highly interesting to have as a background.
When I changed the tires on the Scott Scale 925 from the stock Schwalbe Tires to the Vittora Mezcal and Barzo tubeless mountainbike tires in combination with DT Swiss Tubeless Ready Rim tape and the Peaty’s x Chris King MK2 Tubeless Valves, I’ve also changed the tubeless sealant. This is the moment when I started with Silca Sealant (and replenisher). The Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape is another solid alternative to the DT Swiss Tubeless Ready Rim tape.
I have never had a puncture ever since, while Schwalbe tires in combination with Decathlon Tubeless sealant, resulted in 2 or 3 punctures in a very short time window (that drove my decision to switch) !
Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant Replenisher – Step 2
Step 2 of the Silca Tubeless Sealant system is the Silca Replenisher, which helps driving optimal performance over a longer timespan (up to a full year). On the Silca Sealant Replenisher product page one can read that:
We recommend adding replenisher every 90-120 days depending on temperature and humidity where you live (see chart) to rejuvenate the sealant. Replenisher can also be used to replenish sealant on very porous tires during initial install. Some casing tires are very porous and will experience weeping of sealant throughout the casing sidewalls. Testing shows that weeping sidewalls can reduce sealant volume by 30% during the install, while also accelerating the aging of the sealant. Adding 30-50% of sealant volume back with the replenisher can ensure optimum performance and maximum life.
For best results we recommend using Tensilyzed Polypropylene (TPP) rim tapes such as those sold by Stan’s, Joe’s, 3M, Tessa, and others.¬† These are generally opaque tapes without printing on them and are much stronger and more abrasion resistant than vinyl based tapes.
Silca provides Tubeless System Instructions which basically means replenishment every 3 months with a certain volume of replenisher, and a full system restart by cleaning the tire from any hard sealant and put the initial Tubeless Sealant with Fiberfoam Technology into the tires again.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point for 473 ml. of Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant with Fiberfoam Technology is around € 26,00 – € 28,00, and the 118 ml. Silca Tubeless Sealant Replenisher bottles are available for a price point of € 15,00 – € 17,00.
There are certainly cheaper tubeless sealant options available, but the Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant system with Fiberfoam Technology works really well on the Scott Scale 925 and the Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1-by. I’ve also got me a bottle of Stan’s NoTubes Race Sealant Tire Sealant, as soon as I need to change set-up.
- Have you ever used Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant with Fiberfoam Technology ?
- What do you think of the system ?
- What Tubeless Sealant are you using for your mountain bike or gravel bike ?
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