CO2 and Sealant Compatibility?
#26
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,573
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3035 Post(s)
Liked 1,967 Times
in
1,281 Posts
Back when Stan's brought out the Dart they showed a guy using a cartridge on the trailside but their bumf said the sealant should be replaced once back home.
No reason given but I'd speculate that the CO2 is going to acidify the sealant when it goes into solution as carbonic acid and interfere with the latex inhibitor, which is alkaline.
I carry a pump on my tubeless bikes
No reason given but I'd speculate that the CO2 is going to acidify the sealant when it goes into solution as carbonic acid and interfere with the latex inhibitor, which is alkaline.
I carry a pump on my tubeless bikes
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 12-11-22 at 12:46 PM.
#27
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,573
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3035 Post(s)
Liked 1,967 Times
in
1,281 Posts
From Stan's website FAQ

__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#28
Grupetto Bob
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 4,324
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1717 Post(s)
Liked 3,275 Times
in
1,840 Posts
Have a bottle of Silca’s Ultimate Sealant which I will be trying with the new rims/tires. Have used Stans and Orange which have been fine, but then I just don’t get punctures - knock on wood.
__________________
Road and Mountain 🚴🏾♂️
Happily mediocre at a low skill activity
Road and Mountain 🚴🏾♂️
Happily mediocre at a low skill activity
#29
post cholecystectomy
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 12,953
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5299 Post(s)
Liked 3,819 Times
in
2,657 Posts
Is freezing a permanent issue for the sealant? CO2 isn't any colder than O2 or air when allowed to come to ambient temperature. And inflators that give you finer control of how fast the CO2 flows lets you add it slowly to the tire so there is less cooling going on while Boyles Law is showing itself.
I guess this question sort of begs the question, do people ride tubeless tires in sub-freezing temps? I suspect they do.
I guess this question sort of begs the question, do people ride tubeless tires in sub-freezing temps? I suspect they do.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Posts: 634
Bikes: Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 320 Post(s)
Liked 359 Times
in
194 Posts
My Fatbike is tubeless. It has been out in -20F. I had been riding the MTB as well to commute in sub-freezing. I believe the issue is the chemical interaction between the sealant and the CO2, not freezing.
Even with Orange Seal Sub-Zero sealant, my garage has dropped well below the freezing point of my sealant, and I have not noticed any issues.
Even with Orange Seal Sub-Zero sealant, my garage has dropped well below the freezing point of my sealant, and I have not noticed any issues.
#31
Senior Member
Sealants use air which is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. So a puncture with CO2 might not be sealed with the tire sealant but this is a guess. It really does not matter as CO2 leaks much faster through tire tubes and so should be replaced with air at the first opportunity.
I go years without a puncture on the roads and so carrying a full length pump makes little sense when a CO2 cartride fits in the pouch with the spare tube under the seat.
I go years without a puncture on the roads and so carrying a full length pump makes little sense when a CO2 cartride fits in the pouch with the spare tube under the seat.