Performing Due Diligence in Selecting a Tire Sealant and Company

There are several steps in finding the best tire sealant and company. The first step is to test the sealant to make sure it performs properly and lives up to its manufacturer claims. The second step is to check out the company and make sure they can support you and will stand behind their product.

Testing the Sealant

If a sealant cannot pass these few simple tests, it is not ready for consumers. Each of these tests is easy to perform, and will give you the results you need to make an informed decision.

In order to effectively seal a tire over its life, a tire sealant must be able to handle the stresses imposed on the tire. It must be stable, non-corrosive, homogeneous and not settle or separate, and it must resist cold and heat. If a tire sealant cannot meet these minimum requirements, it can become ineffective, or worse, actually do damage to the wheels and rims.

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These are a series of simple tests to help evaluate whether a particular tire sealant meets these requirements.

Stability

Reason

First and foremost, a tire sealant must remain stable, and in the same condition it was in when first installed in the tire. Without stability, the product will change in its composition over time and will be rendered ineffective.

Test

Put an equal quantity of each sealant (2 to 3 ounces) to be tested on a piece of cardboard and set it in a controlled environment for several days. A controlled environment is one where the sealant will remain at a fairly constant temperature and will not get wet (i.e., rain). Observe the appearance of the sealant after the test.

Results

A stable tire sealant will not have any noticeable change in appearance or consistency. Unstable tire sealants can run, separate, dry up, or show other obvious signs of change.

Reason

A non-corrosive tire sealant will affect neither the steel in the wheel nor the steel belts in the tire. A corrosive tire sealant will eventual eat away at the wheels and steel belts in the tires, causing damage and eventually failure.

Test

Put an equal quantity (4 to 8 ounces) of each sealant to be tested in a cup, and put steel wool into each sealant. Let sit for several days and remove steel wool. Observe the appearance of the steel wool after the test.

Results

A non-corrosive tire sealant will not alter the object in any way. A corrosive tire sealant will show signs of rust and other forms of corrosion.

Reason

A tire sealant that does not remain homogeneous (i.e., one that separates or settles) outside the tire will not remain homogeneous inside the tire. When a tire sealant separates, it can create serious balance problems with the tire because even distribution of the product within the tire cannot happen. Any product that requires mixing, shaking, or stirring prior to application automatically fails this test because it separates in its container.

Test

Take equal quantities (4 to 8 ounces) of each tire sealant to be tested and put them into sealed containers. Let them sit for a few weeks. If the length of time this test takes is impractical, a centrifuge may be used to test the vehicle by simulating the effects of a 16-inch tire travelling at 60 miles per hour for 1.5 hours. Observe the contents of each container.

Results

A homogeneous tire sealant will have no difference in appearance and no particles at the bottom of the container. A non-homogeneous tire sealant will show signs of settling, such as a layer of water on top of the sealant or particles settling to the bottom of the container.

Reason

Cold-stable sealants do not freeze, and will maintain their effectiveness as the temperature drops. A tire sealant that freezes in colder temperatures will lose its ability to effectively seal punctures as the temperature drops.

Test

Take equal quantities (2 ounces) of each tire sealant and put them into a small cup. Place the cup in a freezer for at least 5 hours. Take the cups from the freezer and observe the condition of the sealant.

Results

A cold-stable sealant will have no change in consistency. Sealants that are not cold-stable will either thicken up or freeze solid entirely.

Reason

Heat stable tire sealants hold up to the rigors of every day driving. Driving can generate extreme tire temperatures even in milder climates. A sealant that hardens or "cooks" when heated will eventually fail to perform. A tire sealant that can handle heat will remain effective.

Test

Take equal quantities (2 ounces) of each tire sealant and put them onto paper plates. Put each sample into a microwave oven on high power for 15-25 seconds. Observe the sealant as it is being heated and check its consistency afterward.

Results

A heat stable tire sealant might "boil" as it is heated, but will maintain the same consistency after heated. Some quality tire sealants "thin out" slightly during the heating process to ensure better performance at higher temperatures. Sealants that are not heat resistant will "cook", similar to what happens to eggs when you fry them. Sealants that harden during this test will eventually harden in the tire and become ineffective or cause balance problems.

Reason

Effective tire sealants not only coat the inside of the treaded area of the tire, they stay there, ready to work any time a puncture may occur. Ineffective sealants will also coat the inside treaded area of the tire, but will run to the bottom of the tire when the tire is not in motion.

Test

Take a quantity of each tire sealant to be tested and pour into individual plastic or glass containers. (16 ounce plastic drinking cups work well.) Turn the container on its side and rotate it. Observe the sealant as it rotates in the container. Set the container down and observe any sealant on the sides of the container.

Results

A quality tire sealant will evenly coat the sides of the container as it rotates, and will remain on the sides after the container is set down. Other sealants will have spotty coverage on the sides or none at all, and will slide to the bottom of the container when it is set down. Sealants that do not fully coat the inside treaded area of the tire and remain there can fail to perform or cause balance problems.

The amount of sealant to install in each tire is another serious factor to consider. Installing too little sealant will prevent the sealant from reaching all areas of the inside treaded area of the tire and will reduce or eliminate effectiveness. Conversely, installing too much tire sealant will cause balance problems because the excess sealant has nowhere to go and will accumulate unevenly.

Use common sense in determining the correct amount of sealant to install. Ask yourself, "Will the recommended amount distribute completely and evenly." For example, 2 or 3 ounces in a 15 inch automobile tire will not coat the entire treaded area. 10 or more ounces will coat the treaded area, but will leave an excess amount of sealant that will eventually (if not immediately) cause balance problems.

Checking Out the Company
After verifying that the tire sealant is a quality sealant and performs as it should, the next step in performing due diligence is to make sure the company is representing itself properly. This can be done by simply verifying some information.

1. Check out the company. Visit their offices. Is it a professional environment, or are they "working out of a garage?"
2. Request References. A company should be able to provide positive references on both its products and business practices.
3. Verify Their Claims. If the company provides references, check them out thoroughly. Beware of companies that have 3 or 4 references from the same person at different companies.
4. Check the company's insurance. Will you be a third party insured or are they the insurance policy holders?
5. Check out the product pedigree. How long has the product been manufactured? When was the formula last changed? Has the product been tested by independent laboratories?
6. What packaging is available? Does the company offer a variety of packaging? Do they offer pre-packaged retail kits? Are they flexible enough to custom design packaging for you?
7. Do they offer private labeling? Can you put your brand name on their product? Can they assist you in designing your own private labeling? Do they charge huge fees just for putting your label on the product?
8. Will you have a protected territory? Are "exclusives" available?
9. Do they have lab reports? An untested product's claims cannot be verified. Does the company have reports available from independent laboratories to verify the claims made about the product?
10. Pricing vs. Quality Compare apples with apples. If a company's price is much lower than other companies, is this reflected in the quality of the product? Make sure you are comparing products of a like quality when comparing price.
11. Check literature given to you. Verify all claims made on their literature. Do they cover all areas?
12. Is FREE training offered? What kind of training is offered? Is there any kind of charge for this training?
13. Are there charges for a territory? Does the company charge you money for simply wanting to sell in a particular area, or is the territory available for no charge? Is your territory truly protected?
14. How diverse is their product line? Is the company solely in the tire sealant business or are they capable of offering you other product lines, such as car care products, as your business grows?

As you perform your due diligence, you will see that American Sealant International, Inc. offers a quality tire sealant at a great price, while giving you the benefits of dealing with a company that has been in business for years, and that is willing to share our experience with others.

American Sealant International offers:

• A quality product with good pedigree
• Verifiable claims
• Lab tests and references
• Diverse packaging options
• Private labeling
• Competitive pricing
• Other product lines for additional business possibilities
• Quality literature
• Free training at our corporate offices
• Protected and exclusive territories available at no cost

After performing your due diligence, we're confident you will choose American Sealant International and Flat Free for your tire sealant and car care product needs.