The whole truth about Végétalex: the eco-friendly tyre sealant

What is Végétalex and What Makes it Unique?

Végétalex is a groundbreaking tyre sealant that stands out for being quickly biodegradable and completely plastic-free. It doesn’t contain latex (natural or synthetic), rather it utilizes unique plant-based puncture-repairing ingredients, earning the prestigious Design and Innovation Award in 2021. This innovative formula is highly effective in repairing punctures and is recommended for tubeless, tubular and inner-tube applications

At Effetto Mariposa we believe in eco-friendly products, as long as they are comparable with traditional products, from a performance standpoint. Sometimes users' expectations might have to be re-set a little, but in our dictionary “eco-friendly” doesn’t mean paying more for a lesser product… there should be some true advantage beside sustainability. 

High durability and how to extend it

When it comes to durability, Végétalex outperforms many traditional sealants. Its formula comprises natural particles like finely ground olive stones and cellulose fibers, held together by xanthan gum, providing robust and long-lasting puncture protection, typically exceeding six months. 

What is more, thanks to the natural ingredients, is that Végétalex accepts a simply available (and cheap) replenisher: common water. To further extend its lifespan, simply add water - 50% of the original quantity of Végétalex - into the tyres after 2 - 3 months. This will replace the water that has evaporated in the meantime, restoring the ideal viscosity. Some customers have been able to extend the lifespan of Végétalex inside their tyres well over one year, with obvious economic and ecologic advantages.

Weight

Because of its higher viscosity, we recommend using 20% more Végétalex than the recommended quantities for Caffélatex for the same tyre, to ensure effective covering of the inner tyre surface and puncture prevention.
The quantity might be higher in case of tyres with thin casings - especially low volume road and gravel race tyres - up to 30-40% more. Unless you’re a (very) weight conscious racer and considering that Caffélatex is one of the “lightest” (in terms of quantity for tyre volume) tyre sealant, 30-40% more is an acceptable price to pay for extra durability and easy cleaning (more on that later).

For optimal results, check the right quantity of Végétalex for off-road, road, gravel or cyclo-cross tyres here.

Easy to clean

A big drawback of latex sealants is their difficulty to be cleaned. If you’ve peeled off solidified latex from a tyre you want to reuse, spending hours in order to avoid carrying unnecessary weight, or if you got some sealant on a brand new cycling kit during a ride, while your sealant was repairing a puncture on the rear wheel… you know what we mean.

All that is simply not happening with Végétalex. A brush and some water is all it takes to perfectly clean a tyre with solidified Végétalex in it, and your shoes/clothes can recover easily from Végétalex stains (again, brush and water). Many happy Végétalex users all over the world are still in awe every time they change tyres depending on the terrain, for how easy it is and the lack of associated staining stress…

Re-setting expectations on puncture repair: same same, but different

As mentioned, Végétalex doesn't contain latex. Long and short fibers clog the puncture and stop the pressure loss (as fast as a latex sealant), then Xanthan gum will polymerize to completely seal the puncture, but it can take time (even days in some cases). In the meantime, some liquid might ooze through the puncture but that's not associated with pressure loss.

To provide a better explanation, the way latex sealants repair punctures (i.e. stop the pressure loss when something punctures your tyres) is by polymerisation, turning solid while exiting the hole. When that happens, latex becomes solid, nothing comes out of the puncture anymore.

With Végétalex we avoided latex (a polymer that will remain in the environment for a long time), so we rely on a mix of (natural) fibers and particles to mechanically clog the puncture, hence stopping the pressure loss. The polymer we use to make sure the hole is completely repaired in the long run is Xanthan gum. Much slower to polymerise than latex, but that's ok, because the hole is plugged and no air is escaping at this point. There might be some minor leak of liquid for some time, but no pressure loss. If you notice some liquid oozing from a repaired puncture in your tyre after using Végétalex? Don’t worry—this is normal. 

Longevity and E-Bike Compatibility

Once opened, it can be stored for up to two years if the bottle is properly closed and kept away from direct sunlight. This low-maintenance sealant is particularly suitable for e-bikes, lasting an entire season and reducing the need for frequent maintenance. If you encounter sidewall porosity issues, ensure the sealant is well spread within the tyre by spinning the wheel both vertically and horizontally and letting it lay flat for several hours. This process helps improve air-tightness progressively.

A sustainable performer

We won’t deny Végétalex is quite a special product and it requires a re-setting of expectations. 

For some people its advantages make it a no-brainer substitute for their usual tyre sealant, and there’s no turning back.

For some other people, it takes a while to get used to the slightly different habits required to make it perform at its best. Then, once you learn to shake the bottle well, add the right quantity, top it up with water once in a while, it’s easy to enjoy the easy cleaning, extended lifespan, indifference to CO2 inflation of Végétalex… and its reliable puncture prevention and repair.