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VW Tyre Sealant Shelf Life Advice?
craig1410 - 7/7/10 at 02:42 PM

Hi,

How critical is it to replace the tyre sealant, which you get instead of a spare wheel on some cars, when it reaches its shelf life?

I've got a SEAT Altea and it is coming up for 5 years old. Just checking it over and noticed that the sealant went out of date in 2009. It is still sealed in a genuine VW packet and seems to be liquid but should I depend upon it or should I replace it? It costs £36 odd and is not a stock item at my two local VW dealers and I'll be going on a 1400 mile trip through europe soon. I do have some Holts Tyreweld which I carry in the Locost which I could take as a backup but would appreciate advice on the shelf life issue before I shell out £36 for something which might still be useable.

Thanks,
Craig.

PSpirine - 7/7/10 at 06:20 PM

Tyreweld will do the same thing. If it's a proper slit or blow out, the VW goo won't help either.

I wouldn't bother with it. To be honest, I'm sure it's still useable.

Got AA cover? Breaking down in France/Belgium without breakdown isn't fun.

I managed to get my European cover sorted online 7 minutes before setting off to Europe, broke down 5 miles into Belgium. Cost me 150 quid for the cover, AA shelled out close to two grand no questions asked - brilliant support too.
AND it was still valid for the rest of the 12 months (multi trip policy HELLO!)

craig1410 - 7/7/10 at 06:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PSpirine
Tyreweld will do the same thing. If it's a proper slit or blow out, the VW goo won't help either.

I wouldn't bother with it. To be honest, I'm sure it's still useable.

Got AA cover? Breaking down in France/Belgium without breakdown isn't fun.

I managed to get my European cover sorted online 7 minutes before setting off to Europe, broke down 5 miles into Belgium. Cost me 150 quid for the cover, AA shelled out close to two grand no questions asked - brilliant support too.
AND it was still valid for the rest of the 12 months (multi trip policy HELLO!)


Hi, thanks for the advice.

Yes I do have AA European Cover. Cost me £58 or something for single trip. Normally I get my UK cover from Auto Aid for £37 per year. I actually got a discount on my AA Europe cover by buying a map of France.

The car is in good shape and has just been serviced with good tyres, brake pads, new timing belt, aux drive belt, new fluids etc etc. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong but if it does then I'm sure the AA will sort it out.

Thanks again,
Craig.

Ninehigh - 8/7/10 at 06:57 AM

Might be a good idea to take the tyreweld too, just in case the VW sealant doesn't work.

Or you could just blast it and see what happens, thinking of doing that with my fire extinguisher it's about 15 years old and the pressure gauge has been knocked off