I recently pulled the trigger on a 2019 Specialized Stumpjumper 27.5 in size large from Roy’s Cyclery in Upland, CA. So far, there’s nothing about the bike I don’t love. The geometry is spot on and has resulted in unwavering confidence on the trail. I’m impressed with its ability to balance pedaling efficiency with a bottomless feel on the descents. But we’re not here today to talk bike geometry, we’re here to talk about an even more exciting topic, tire sealant and degreaser by our friends at Joe’s. 

A tubeless setup on an MTB these days are table stakes. If you’re still running tubes on the dirt it’s safe to say you’re a roadie in disguise and behind the times. When tubeless does it’s job it’s out of sight and out of mind. We all know the benefits: lower tire pressures which equates to better traction, no pinch flats to speak of and protection against small punctures. When things go south, the scene can be a mess. Nothing is worse than wrapping up an epic ride only to discover your rear tire had a puncture, the sealant did it’s job but not after spraying a lovely rooster tail of white sludge covered in dirt up your back and all over your bike. Your first thought was, “well that is going to be fun to clean…” 

With my Stumpjumper setup tubeless off the showroom floor there wasn’t much left to do but ride. Three flats later after only hitting the dirt twice, it was time to evaluate my options. I’m hoping Joe’s No-Flat Super Sealant comes to the rescue. 

Here’s what we tested:

Joe’s Super Sealant - $26.99 MSRP

Joe’s Bio-Degreaser - N/A

Joe’s Eco-Nano Chain Lube Lube - N/A

Conditions: Wet California clay dirt

Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA

Bio-Degreaser

I made the mistake of riding Socal California clay right after a rain. The Stumpjumper was absolutely covered in mud so it was the perfect opportunity to put Joe’s Bio-degreaser to the test. Fifteen minutes at the other end of a pressure washer and a half a bottle of Bio-degreaser later she’s good as new. First impressions were, it smells great, who doesn’t like a good smelling garage? Joe’s provide a spray nozzle along with the packaging and it works relatively well. I would have liked to see a slightly larger bottle as this wouldn’t last long, and it didn’t fully remove the dirt stains on the frame due to the clay. Previously I have used Shout or simple green and had great results. However, I let it soak for two minutes on the chain and sprockets and it helped break down the dirt.

Super Sealant

Joe’s Super Sealant did the trick and we are back riding in no time! After removing the tire and thoroughly cleaning the bead and rim with contact cleaner, you will want to apply a strip (or two) of electrical tape around the rim to prevent any air gaps in the spoke holes. Once you reinstall the tire, use an air compressor nozzle on the valve stem with the valve core removed and set the bead of the tire. Prepare yourself for a ear-shattering snap when the tire bead sets or you might end up with a little pee on your shorts but you can say it’s water and no one will be the wiser. Joe’s sells a syringe separately that I highly recommend when injecting the sealant into your tires to prevent a mess all over your wheels and probably your garage. Tire sealant in general stinks and stains clothes easily so be careful. The syringe tool includes two adapters, one to pull the sealant out of the large container, the other to connect to your valve stem. They recommend 60ml - 120ml of sealant per tire and it worked like a charm.

Eco-Nano Chain lube

After a deep pressure wash, I always recommend applying chain lube to protect from rust and prepare your bike for the next ride. It was easy to apply and didn't make a mess spraying everywhere once peddling. We look forward to putting it through the paces on the trail and testing the durability. 

Overall

All the Joe’s products worked well, but the degreaser could use some improvement. I have still yet to find anything as good as Shout, yes the laundry detergent for any painted metal surfaces or plastic. I would give the sealant a two-thumbs up and would recommend it to everyone. Stay tuned on a durability report of Eco-nano chain lube. Until next time, I’m Chad Tempo and this is My Two Wheel Life.

Results

We put the sealant to the ultimate test and it unfortunately failed. While racing the SoCal Enduro this weekend our team member Mike Sleeter suffered a rock puncture and the sealant did not seal the puncture resulting In a flat. ‘The Joe’s Super Sealant, seemed too liquidy and did not fill the puncture as some of the others have have in the past when I received a similar puncture’ said, Mike Sleeter.