Caffélatex - bicycle tyre sealant

Caffélatex tyre sealant is quietly hiding in the wheels of the best cyclists in the World, who trust it to ride as puncture-free as possible. 

• With a strong racing background in road and off-road cycling, Caffélatex is perfect for tubeless, tubular and inner-tube applications (latex/butyl, not TPU).
• Very fast puncture repairing action, ideal for performance-oriented cyclists (and for those who want even more, we created Vitamina CL additive)
• Adds very little weight to wheels, following the suggested quantities
• Its foaming behavior makes it spread evenly inside tyres, covering the whole internal surface very efficiently
• Caffélatex doesn’t contain ammonia or other aggressive chemicals and is not toxic
• Relying on synthetic latex, Caffélatex doesn’t create allergy issues associated with natural latex
• Check here the correct quantity of Caffélatex you need!

CHARACTERISTICS:

Sizes

Caffélatex is available as bottles of 1000 or 250 ml. Bottles come with a flexible tube, to allow sealant injection straight through the valve.
Ten liter Caffélatex Pro Point cube is a great choice for teams or shops.

Very fast puncture repairing action

A secret blend of liquid synthetic polymers gives Caffélatex its “latex-like” behavior, becoming solid when exposed to fast evaporation, repairing holes in the process. We improved this with the addition of a precise percentage of microscopic (less than 2 microns, 0,002 mm) silicate particles, so that Caffélatex moves slowly through holes, allowing it more time to heal the puncture.
Puncture repair speed is especially beneficial with lightweight or thin-casing tyres, making Caffélatex ideal for performance-oriented cyclists, for both road and off-road cycling and for tubeless, tubular and inner-tube applications.
Caffélatex repairs punctures up to 5 mm (off-road tubeless tyres) and 3 mm (road tubeless tyres).

For cyclists seeking the ultimate puncture protection, we created for Caffélatex the Vitamina CL additive.


Lightweight

In order to save weight on rotating masses, Caffélatex has a high mobility and a small quantity goes a long way in terms of coverage of the inner surface of the tyre. We suggest to use the quantities suggested by the table here: while too much sealant is unnecessary weight, too little is utterly pointless as punctures will still occur and the (small) weight of sealant will serve no purpose. 
For example, we recommend 60 ml (approximately 2 oz) of Caffélatex for 29x2.10 (54-622) tubeless tyres; 30 ml (approximately 1 oz) for 700x25c (25-622) tubeless tyres.

Foaming behaviour activated by wheel movement

When engineering Caffélatex and refining its formula, we discovered that providing it with a foaming behaviour (passing from liquid to foam when agitated, so activated by wheel movement) was a big plus in terms of ability to spread inside the tyre cavity. When wheels are turning, centrifugal force drives standard liquid sealants against the outer circumference inside the tyre.

Caffélatex, turning into foam, tends to fill the entire internal cavity of the tyre, making Caffélatex available and effective even when the puncture happens on the sidewall. Caffélatex reverts to its liquid state after around 15 minutes of stillness.

Lifespan

Compared to other “latex-like” sealants, Caffélatex is a very stable and durable, although its lifespan is heavily influenced by tyre type.
Using the recommended quantity for tyre size/type, the expected Caffélatex lifespan is:

• Tubular (or Caffélatex inserted into latex/butyl inner tube - not TPU inner tubes): up to 1 year
• UST Tubeless tyre: 2-6 months
• Tubeless-ready tyre: 1-4 months
• Tube-type tyre: 1-3 months

In the impossibility of knowing the specific conditions (kind of wheel/tyre set-up, tyre sidewall thickness and porosities, external temperature and humidity, bicycle storage conditions…), we recommend checking Caffélatex every 2 months, to make sure it’s liquid and therefore ensures its puncture preventive action.
When dry, Caffélatex-sealed wheels are still air-tight, but Caffélatex won’t actively repair punctures.

Not toxic, corrosive, allergenic

Caffélatex doesn’t contain ammonia or other aggressive chemicals: that characteristic makes it also the favorite sealant for cyclocross/tubular applications, creating no harm to the sensitive latex inner tubes. 

WARNING: oxidation of aluminum rims can happen because of the water content of the sealant, occurring where metal surface is not painted/protected or covered by tubeless rim strip or tape.
As its formula is synthetic, Caffélatex doesn’t trigger allergic reactions in people who are allergic to products made with natural rubber latex.

Usage and storage temperatures and tips

Usage: -20/+50°C (-4/+122°F)
Storage: -15/+30°C (+5/+86°F)

Caffélatex will last 2 years after the bottle is first open, as long as the bottle is closed properly and stored away from direct sunlight, and the storage temperature is within the range stated above.
To check if a bottle of Caffélatex is still good, even after a long time since first opening it:

• the liquid should have a homogeneous viscosity (no solid chunks or evident separation between lighter and denser liquid);
• 10-second test: wet thumb and index in liquid Caffélatex, press it between the two fingers for ten seconds then release: if it starts to create a solid layer, it’s still functioning properly.

Made in Italy.

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FAQ:

How long does the product last inside the tyres?

Caffélatex is a synthetic latex which has good stability. Using the recommended quantities based on the tyre size, the indicative life span is as follows:

• Tubulars (or Caffélatex inserted in a latex, butyl inner tube - not TPU): up to 1 year
• Tubeless tyre: 2-6 months
• Tubeless-ready tyre: 1-4 months

How much Caffélatex should I use for my tyres?

We have practical guidelines and tables in this regard here

Are there any particular indications on the type of tyres to use?

For tubeless use, we recommend using Caffélatex in association with Tubeless or Tubeless Ready (TR) tyres

Can I use Caffélatex in an inner tube?

Yes, it is possible to do it and we talk about it extensively in this article. Given its great durability, we recommend considering also our other sealant, Végétalex, as a preventive inside inner tubes

For which cycling practice is Caffélatex indicated?

Caffélatex is used both off-road (MTB, gravel, cyclocross) and on the road. For racing purposes, several professional World Tour teams use Caffélatex, which works well even at high pressures. To increase the repair power in competitive conditions, we recommend adding V-CL.

How long does the content of the bottle lasts once opened?

Caffélatex can be used for at least two years from the first opening of the bottle, provided that the bottle is kept tightly closed and away from heat sources and - VERY IMPORTANT - not exposed directly to sunlight, given that UV radiation can damage the polymer liquid, in the long run.

Can I mix Caffélatex and Végétalex?

Yes, the two products are compatible. It is important to note that the life span obtained from the mix is that of Caffélatex, not that of the longer-lived Végétalex, so we still recommend opting for one or the other.