The WTB TCS sealant is a synthetic, ammonia-free, latex-based tyre sealant that has delivered a consistently good performance in a range of bikes, pressures and weather conditions. it's also performed very well in our puncture test as we look to crown the best tubeless sealant.
WTB TCS sealant – Technical details
WTB claims producing the TCS sealant was only released after five different formulas were tested, with this final version being an ammonia-free, latex-based solution. Available in four bottle sizes and suitable for use in a wide range of pressures and tyre sizes - and it proved to go the distance with very little in the way of drying up.
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While other brands of sealant have larger particles in the mixture, things are more 'watery' with WTB TCS sealant, which does little to affect its performance. I used 100ml per 700x45mm gravel tyre, which is an average amount compared to other sealant recommendations. While the sealant can be inserted through the valve, I preferred to pour straight into the tyre to prevent the possibility of leaking. It does need a very good shake before application into the tyre.
WTB TCS sealant – Testing procedure
To test sealant performance, we created a standardised puncture test to assess each contender. The same exact tyre on the same rim for each sealant. The tyre used was a Halo GXC, measuring 47mm. Tyre sealant was added in the amount suggested by the manufacturer, and the tyre was inflated to 40psi. This pressure was chosen to give a realistic tyre pressure for all areas of off-road riding. A digital tyre pressure gauge was used to ensure that the pressure was identical on each test. After that, the tyre was rotated sufficiently to ensure that it was distributed evenly throughout the tyre. The tyres were all punctured by driving a 3mm nail through the carcass. The wheel was rotated to assess if the sealant had successfully sealed the hole. If the sealant worked, the test was repeated using a 5mm diameter nail, and if successful on the larger hole the remaining air pressure was measured with a digital pressure gauge and the result was recorded.
WTB TCS sealant – Performance
The WTB TCS sealant performed extremely well, sealing both sized punctures almost instantly, with just a minimal loss of air on the larger 5mm puncture. Overall, the tyre lost pretty much no air, measuring in at 39psi after the test.
The sealant has also lasted a long time, staying in liquid form for the past four months. With the long duration test complete and after removing the tyre there were several thorns through the carcass, but at no time during riding did they let affect performance and air retention. The sealant also worked well with tyre inserts.
WTB TCS sealant is available in four sizes, and all are competitively priced. 4oz (118ml) at £9, 8oz (236ml) at £10, 16oz (473ml) priced at £15 and the largest 32oz (946ml) that costs £25. These prices compare very well against other brands, although having just a £1 difference between the smallest two does make the smallest 40z (118ml) seem pointless.
WTB TCS sealant – Verdict
During both the standardised puncture tests, and over the duration of four months the WTB TCS sealant has not failed at all. It is priced competitively, works on all forms of bikes and pressures plus the formula is ammonia free.
