How to install Permashield® Tire Sealant
This guide is provided for all field technicians installing the Permashield Tire Sealant product into new or used automobile tires. It is designed to provide detailed installation instruction, thereby minimizing errors which may otherwise occur during installation. Proper installation will ensure customer satisfaction, eligibility for the Permashield manufacturer limited liability warranty, and compliance with tire manufacturer warranty specifications. We are here to assist. Should any questions arise regarding the installation procedure and you cannot find the answers in this manual, please do not hesitate to contact us or your Permashield representative for assistance.
Equipment / Personnel needed for installation
- Certified Permashield Tire Sealant Installer
- Permashield supplied 5 gallon container of product*
- Calibrated sealant hand pump with open flow chuck (straight or ball style)
- Compressed (dry) air / Nitrogen (Nitrogen is highly recommended for optimal results, contact Permashield representative for specialized Nitrogen machine setup)
- Accurate air pressure gauge
- Access to Permashield’s online or printed dosage calculator
- Valve stem removal tool
- Dual wheel application valve stem extensions
- Safety glasses
- Rags and water for clean up if required
*For installation using the optional metered pneumatic pump and 55 gallon drum, please contact your Permashield representative for instructions related to the specific equipment used.
Standard Installation Procedure
*ALL INSTALLATIONS SHOULD BE DONE IN A PROPER, SAFE, AND PROFESSIONALLY EQUIPPED SERVICE AREA.
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST RESULTS, TIRE SEALANT AND WHEEL/RIM TEMPERATURE MUST BOTH BE BETWEEN 50°F – 80°F AT INSTALLATION. FOR INSTALLATIONS BELOW RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURE, SEE COLD WEATHER INSTALLATION PROCEDURE, BELOW.
PRIOR TO INSTALLING: All tires must be checked for balance, wear, and possible inner contamination prior to installation. If tires are not in balance, contain feathering or uneven wear, have any damage or defects in belting or structure, or if wheels are damaged, bent, or in any way out of round, installation must be terminated until such problems are corrected. Water, ice, dirt or other material inside the tire will impede the proper adhesion of the sealant to the inner tread area and will negatively affect the performance of the sealant. Failure to correct these problems may result in uneven distribution of the sealant inside the tire, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the product and potentially causing a vibration at high speeds.
DETERMINE PROPER DOSAGE: You will need to calculate the amount of product that will be inserted into the tire. This very important step will ensure that you achieve adequate protection for the tire. Installing too little product will not adequately cover the required area inside of the tire and protect it from punctures. Insufficient product installed may also cause tire imbalance if there is not enough to evenly coat the inner tread area. Alternatively, too much product installed within the tire will potentially cause settling of the excess amount if the tire is inactive for a period of time, resulting in short term imbalance issues. Click here for the light duty dosage calculator or here for the heavy duty dosage calculator.
REMOVE THE VALVE STEM CORE from each tire prior to attaching the chuck from the calibrated installation pump. The tire does not have to be completely deflated prior to installation, but it is helpful to have as little air pressure as possible in the tire. If moisture or ice is emitted from the valve during deflation, completely deflate the tire, remove from rim, and dry the inside of the tire completely. Then remount and balance tire before proceeding. Recommended installation pressure is less than 20 psi, although the installation pumps are rated for working at up to 50 psi. If installing in a dual wheel setup, we recommend removal of the outside wheel for ease of access. Rotate each wheel so the valve stem is between the 10:00 and 2:00 position.
INSTALL THE SEALANT using only an authorized Permashield hand pump. Each full stroke is calibrated to 8 oz. A stroke is measured from the handle fully being extended and then completely depressed. For example, if you need to install 24 oz, this would equal 3 full strokes per tire. For dosages needing increments less than the full 8 oz per stroke, adjust the dosage clamp to just above the line on the calibrated pump shaft for the appropriate ounces per stroke. Make sure pump is primed before connecting to the tire valve by pumping a few strokes into a bucket or trash bin to ensure there are no air pockets visible in the hose.
Once primed and the sealant pump chuck is connected to the valve stem on the tire, slowly pump one stroke of sealant and make sure it flows smoothly into the tire. If there is no blockage, proceed to fill the tire with the appropriate amount of sealant per the dosage chart and continue the installation on the remaining tires. If the product does not flow into the valve smoothly, you will know immediately. Do not force product into the valve stem if obstructed or damage to the TPMS system may occur. It is actually “sealing” the valve opening inadvertently. In this case you can typically use an air hose and blow directly into the valve stem, freeing up the blockage, or carefully scoop out any blockage with a small metal or plastic pointed instrument. This is a very rare occurrence; however there may be some valves which do not accommodate the normal installation procedure. Any spill or leakage of the product may be simply wiped clean with a shop rag and water.
REINSTALL THE VALVE CORE once the proper dosage of sealant is fully injected in the tire. Prior to inserting the valve core, clean the inner valve threads with a burst of air or small tool to ensure the core seats properly. Then re-inflate tire to the manufacturer recommended pressure with dry compressed air or Nitrogen. Note: It is important to make sure you have clean, dry air going into the tire, as water from an unfiltered air compressor will adversely affect the product effectiveness in the tire and potentially cause balance issues.
ACTIVATE THE PROTECTION after installing in the tires by driving the vehicle to evenly distribute the sealant inside the tread area of the tire. We recommend beginning this activation period as soon as possible after installation. Typically, activation in ambient temperatures above 50° F requires that the vehicle be driven at safe speeds above 60 mph for at least 5 miles so the product can evenly distribute and coat inside of the tires. You will typically feel a vibration or imbalance of the tires on the initial portion of the drive, and then feel it go away and become smooth. Once it smooths out, continue driving at least 2-3 additional miles at highway speeds. The product is now activated. Heavier vehicles or those with computer dampened suspensions may not experience this vibration. This is normal, but activation still requires driving it above 60mph for at least 5 miles.
If you have any questions or concerns about dosage or installation of the product, please contact your Permashield sales representative or our technical support staff.
Cold Weather Procedure
All sealant must be stored in sealed containers between 50°F – 80°F. Do not attempt to install product if the sealant temperature is below 50° F. To raise temperature, place in a climate controlled room and allow the sealant to slowly regain proper temperature, which may take 24-48 hours. Do not heat sealant with space heaters or other direct heating elements. This will degrade the product and void all warranties.
Never install product into a tire that has an internal tire wall, air or wheel/rim temperature at or below 32° F. Humidity inside the tire may cause icing or frosting of the inner tread area, preventing proper sealant adhesion and resultant imbalance and ineffective puncture protection.
All Standard Installation procedures outlined above should be followed. Activation in cold ambient weather may take take longer to achieve. The sealant viscosity will tend to thicken in cold temperatures, so activation may require driving above 60mph for additional distances. If the initial vibration does not smooth out after driving above 60mph for at least 15 miles, it may be necessary to increase the dosage in the affected tires. If the vibration is felt in the steering wheel, that indicates the imbalance is coming from the front axle tires. If the vibration is felt in the seat or floorboard, that indicates the imbalance is coming from the rear axle tires.
To increase dosage, remove valve stem as described above. It is not necessary to fully deflate the tire unless you feel water or ice escaping from the valve stem. Reducing the psi to approximately 20 psi is sufficient. Clamp on the chuck and hose and insert exactly 2 ounces of additional product. Reinstall valve core after cleaning valve threads with burst of air or small tool, reinflate, and perform the activation drive again. Repeat this step if necessary only one additional time for a maximum additional dosage of 4 ounces. If the vibration has not smoothed out after 4 additional ounces and at least 10-15 miles at speeds consistently of 60mph or more, contact your Permashield representative for further troubleshooting and solution.
Removing Product from Tire
If for any reason you require the tire sealant to be removed from the tires, such as in the case of re-treading a truck tire, the process is very simple. Permashield Tire Sealant is non-toxic, non-combustible, water soluble, and easily cleaned up. Removal from a tire will have no adverse effect on the tire itself. If you have any questions or concerns about removing any Permashield Tire Sealant products, please contact us and we will have a support representative assist you with the procedure for proper removal of the product.
Recommended removal procedure:
- Properly remove the wheel and tire from vehicle.
- Dismount tires from wheels using a qualified wheel and tire machine.
- You will find a thin film of sealant spread on the inside of the tread area of the tire. Using a high powered wet/dry shop vacuum you can remove the product by vacuuming the product directly out of the tire. Alternatively, you can use a shop rag or plastic scraping tool to scrape out the sealant and dispose in a bucket or bag.
- Once the majority of the sealant has been removed using a vacuum or scraper, finish removing the remaining film using warm water and a sponge or a hose. Permashield Tire Sealant is water soluble and will break down for easy removal.
- Wipe tires out with a clean, dry rag. Also, remove any residue that may be on the wheel. Although we recommend gloves and eye protection, the product should cause no adverse reactions to skin or clothing and simply washes off with warm water and soap.
- Once clean and dry, the tire is ready to be mounted and balanced on the wheel, and then re-installed on the vehicle. Keep in mind, Permashield will dry out completely when exposed to the open atmosphere.
Last year alone, AAA came to the rescue to more than 450,000 members faced with a flat tire whose cars did not have a spare tire.
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