Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Check the Tire Sealant Kit That Replaced Your Spare Wheel

Cars and light trucks with no spare tire — find the kit, read the sealant expiry date, prove the compressor runs, and write down the limits before you ever need them
ApplicabilityCars and light trucks supplied with a tire sealant kit and compressor in place of a spare wheel
Task time16 min to 25 min editorial estimate, not a measurement
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-07-29
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

Most new cars no longer carry a spare wheel. In its place there is a small case in the trunk holding a bottle of tire sealant and a little electric compressor, and almost nobody opens it until the moment a tire goes down. That is the wrong moment, because the sealant in that bottle has an expiry date on the label and will be refused by its own manufacturer once the date passes. Mazda asks owners to inspect the kit at regular intervals, to check the sealant's period of effective use and to check that the compressor still runs; Honda lists expired sealant first among the situations in which the kit must not be used and the car must be towed instead. This page is that inspection, done on your own driveway, in about ten minutes.

What this page will not print is the expiry date, the biggest puncture your kit will seal, the speed limit after a repair, or how long your compressor may run. Those are properties of your kit and your car, they are printed on the kit itself and in your owner documentation, and a page that guessed them would be guessing with the numbers that decide whether the repair works. What this page does instead is teach you where each of them is written, and give you somewhere to write them down while you are calm and the car is on the driveway. One thing worth knowing before you buy a replacement bottle anywhere other than the dealer: General Motors states in its own service bulletin that tire pressure sensors are not compatible with commercially available tire sealants, and that sealant can clog the sensor's pressure port.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
Flashlight optionalThe light below the load floor is low.
Pen and paperWrite the limits from the kit on the paper.
Vehicle documentationThe documentation gives the location of the kit and the limits.

Find the tire sealant kit

Estimated 3 min to 6 min

NOTEManufacturers put the kit in different locations.
WARNING

STOP THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU START THIS CHECK.
Traffic can kill you.

  1. Stop the vehicle on a level surface away from traffic.
    <1m
  2. Set the parking brake.
    <1m
  3. Open the trunk.
    <1m
  4. Lift the load floor.
    • Honda tells owners to open the trunk floor lid to get the kit.
    <1m
  5. Find the kit below the load floor.
    • Some vehicles hold the kit in a compartment at the side of the trunk.
    • The vehicle documentation gives the location of the kit.
    1m
  6. If you cannot find the kit, read the vehicle documentation.
    <1m

Examine the sealant canister

Estimated 4 min to 5 min

NOTEThe date on the label controls the use of the sealant.
Date of expiry of the tire sealant
Unverified — do not rely on this value
READ THE DATE FROM THE LABEL ON THE SEALANT CANISTER IN YOUR OWN KIT

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

WARNING

KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE TIRE SEALANT.
Tire sealant is dangerous if a person swallows it. Mazda tells owners to get medical aid immediately.

  1. Remove the sealant canister from the kit.
    • The canister is the bottle of liquid in the kit.
    <1m
  2. Read the label on the sealant canister.
    <1m
  3. Find the date of expiry on the label.
    • Mazda gives the name period of effective use to this date.
    • Honda gives the name expiration date to the same thing.
    <1m
  4. Compare the date on the label with the date of today.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT USE TIRE SEALANT AFTER THE DATE ON THE LABEL.
Honda tells owners to have the vehicle towed if the sealant is too old.

NOTICE

USE ONLY THE SEALANT THAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIES.
General Motors says that sealants from other suppliers can cause damage to the tire pressure sensor.

  1. If the date is in the past, speak to a dealer about new sealant.
    • Mazda tells owners to replace the sealant before the date.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT OPEN THE SEALANT CANISTER.
Tire sealant in your eyes can injure them. Flush your eyes with much water immediately.

  1. Examine the body of the canister for cracks.
    <1m
  2. Examine the seal of the canister for dry sealant.
    <1m
  3. Install the sealant canister in the kit.
    <1m

Examine the compressor

Estimated 4 min to 6 min

NOTEA compressor that does not operate makes the sealant of no use.
Duty cycle of the compressor
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE LONGEST TIME OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Find the compressor in the kit.
    • The compressor is the electrical pump in the kit.
    <1m
  2. Examine the hose and the electrical cable for cuts.
    • A cut in the hose lets the sealant escape.
    <1m
WARNING

DO THIS PART OF THE CHECK IN AN OUTDOOR AREA.
The exhaust from an engine has carbon monoxide in it. Carbon monoxide can kill you.

  1. Connect the electrical cable to the accessory power socket.
    • Some vehicles supply the socket only when the electrical system is ON.
    <1m
NOTICE

WHEN YOU OPERATE THE COMPRESSOR, OBEY THE TIME LIMIT IN THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION.
Longer operation can cause damage to the compressor.

  1. Operate the compressor for a maximum of thirty seconds.
    • A compressor that does not operate is a fault.
    • Speak to a dealer about a compressor that does not operate.
    <1m
  2. Stop the compressor.
    <1m
  3. Disconnect the electrical cable from the accessory power socket.
    <1m
  4. Find the instruction booklet in the kit.
    • Honda supplies an instruction booklet with the kit.
    <1m

Read the limits from the kit

Estimated 4 min to 6 min

Maximum size of a hole that the sealant can seal
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR OWN KIT

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Maximum speed after a repair with sealant
Unverified — do not rely on this value
READ THE SPEED FROM THE LABEL ON THE KIT, OR CONSULT THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Maximum distance after a repair with sealant
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION AND THE INSTRUCTION BOOKLET IN THE KIT

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Inflation pressure after a repair with sealant
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE VEHICLE PLACARD ON THE DOOR PILLAR, AND THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Read the maximum speed from the label on the kit.
    • Honda supplies a speed restriction label with the kit.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT USE THE KIT ON DAMAGE IN THE SIDE OF A TIRE.
A tire with this damage can fail and injure you.

  1. Read the maximum size of a hole that the sealant can seal.
    • The vehicle documentation gives this size.
    • The sealant cannot seal a hole in the side of a tire.
    1m
  2. Read the time limit for the operation of the compressor.
    • The vehicle documentation gives this limit.
    <1m
  3. Write the limits on the paper.
    1m
  4. Put the paper in the kit.
    <1m

Record the result

Estimated 2 min

  1. Install the kit in its location.
    <1m
  2. Lower the load floor.
    <1m
  3. Close the trunk.
    <1m
  4. Record the date of this check and the date of expiry.
    <1m
  5. Do this check with the monthly check of the tire pressure.
    • Mazda asks for an inspection of the kit at regular intervals.
    • NHTSA asks for a check of the tire pressure one time each month.
    <1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

tire sealant kit
Also called: tire mobility kit, tire inflator kit, temporary tire repair kit, emergency flat tire repair kit, puncture repair kit, flat tire kit, the kit my car has instead of a spare tire, car has no spare tire
tire sealant
Also called: tire goo, tire slime, the bottle of liquid in the kit, sealant bottle, tire foam
compressor
Also called: air compressor, tire inflator, the pump in the kit, 12 volt pump, cigarette lighter pump
period of effective use
Also called: expiry date, expiration date, use by date, does tire sealant expire, tire sealant expiration date, sell by date
tire pressure monitoring system
Also called: TPMS, tire pressure sensor, the tire light, the horseshoe light, does tire sealant damage tpms
accessory power socket
Also called: cigarette lighter socket, 12 volt socket, power outlet in the car, aux power socket

When to use a professional

This kit makes a temporary repair. It is not a repair of the tire. Speak to a tire specialist immediately after you use the kit. Mazda tells owners to replace the tire as soon as possible.

Do not use the kit in these conditions. The sealant is after the date on the label. The damage is in the side of the tire. The tire came off the wheel rim. The tire has two or more holes. Speak to a roadside assistance service, and let them move the vehicle.

A person can swallow tire sealant. Ask for medical aid immediately. In the United States, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. If sealant touches your eyes or your skin, flush the area with much water. Then get medical aid.

Common questions

My car has no spare tire — what is that little case in the trunk instead?

It is a tire sealant kit: a bottle of liquid sealant and a small electric compressor that plugs into the car's accessory socket. Between them they are meant to get a small tread puncture holding air well enough to reach a tire shop. They are not a spare wheel and they are not a repair. Mazda calls its version the emergency flat tire repair kit; Honda calls its version the temporary tire repair kit; the industry also calls it a tire mobility kit.

Does tire sealant really expire?

Yes, and both manufacturers treat the date as binding rather than advisory. Mazda's owner's manual says the tire sealant has a period of effective use, that you should check the date on the bottle label and not use it if it has expired, and that the sealant should be replaced at a dealer before that date. Honda's tire repair kit document puts expired sealant at the top of the list of situations in which the kit must not be used at all — the instruction there is to contact a dealer or roadside assistance and have the car towed. Neither company publishes a shelf life that applies to every kit, which is why this page sends you to your own bottle.

How big a puncture will the kit actually seal?

That is a per-kit number and it is in your owner documentation. As a sense of scale, Mazda's MX-5 manual says its kit cannot be used when the tear or puncture exceeds about 4 mm (0.16 in), and Honda's Insight kit document sets the same boundary for its own kit as larger than 3/16 inch (4 mm). Those are two manufacturers' figures for two specific kits and this page does not generalise them into a rule for yours. Read your own.

Will the sealant ruin my TPMS sensor?

It depends entirely on whose sealant it is, and the clearest published answer comes from General Motors. Its service bulletin 07-03-16-004E states that tire pressure sensors are not compatible with commercially available tire sealants, that sealant materials can clog the pressure port of the sensor and lead to inaccurate readings and improper low-tire warnings, and that some sealants can degrade the protective potting over the sensor's electronics. The same bulletin says GM's own inflator kits and the sealant they use have been tested and are compatible, and that the sensor should still be inspected for damage after the kit is used. The practical reading is simple: replace an expired bottle with the one your vehicle maker sells, not with whatever is on the shelf at a parts store.

How fast can I drive after using one of these?

Slowly, and the exact limit is printed on your kit — Honda ships a speed restriction label in the case for exactly this reason. For scale, both Mazda's MX-5 manual and Honda's Insight kit document tell their owners not to exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) after a sealant repair, and both also cap how far you go before rechecking the pressure. Your kit's label is the authority for your car.

How long can I run the little compressor?

Less time than you would think, and the limit is per compressor. Mazda's manual says not to run the air compressor for a continuous ten minutes or longer because long periods could cause a malfunction; Honda's document says not to run its compressor for more than fifteen minutes because it can overheat and be permanently damaged. Those are two different pumps with two different limits, which is why this page asks you to write your own limit down rather than printing one. During the check itself thirty seconds is plenty — you are proving it runs, not inflating anything.

How often should I check the kit?

Mazda asks for an inspection at regular intervals but does not publish a number, so this page does not invent one. The easy answer is to fold it into something you already have a published interval for: NHTSA asks for a check of all tires, including the spare, at least once a month. Open the case at the same time and you will never be reading an expiry date by torchlight on a hard shoulder.

It is freezing outside and the check went fine — anything else to know?

One thing, for the day you actually use it. Mazda notes that the sealant hardens easily and becomes difficult to inject in cold conditions at or below 0 °C (32 °F), and suggests warming the bottle inside the car first. That is a use-day detail rather than a check-day one, but it is the kind of thing nobody reads at the roadside.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1Inspecting the Emergency Flat Tire Repair Kit — 2023 MX-5 Owner's ManualMazda North American Operations · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  2. Tier 1About the Emergency Flat Tire Repair Kit — 2020 MX-5 Owner's ManualMazda North American Operations · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  3. Tier 1Using the Emergency Flat Tire Repair Kit — 2022 MX-5 Owner's ManualMazda North American Operations · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  4. Tier 1Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire — 2022 Insight Owner's Manual, Tire Repair Kit extractAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc. · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  5. Tier 1Service Bulletin 07-03-16-004E — TPM System Overview, Diagnosing Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPM) Concerns and TPM Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral Motors LLC, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Office of Defects Investigation technical service bulletin archive · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  6. Tier 1Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness (TireWise)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25 · automated link check returned 403 — verified by hand

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-07-29 · next review due 2027-07-29

  1. v1 · 2026-07-29First draft. The sourcing band was tier1-per-unit and it held: two vehicle manufacturers publish complete first-party procedures for their own kits, and every value that matters is a property of the reader's own kit. All six specifications therefore publish as consult-manufacturer instructions with no digit in them, per rule 1. The inspection itself is not an editorial invention: Mazda's 2023 MX-5 manual instructs owners to inspect the kit at regular intervals, to check the sealant period of effective use and to check the operation of the tire compressor, and this record is that instruction expanded into steps. The ingestion and eye-contact hazards are Mazda's own WARNING; the carbon-monoxide hazard is Honda's own WARNING about running the engine to power the compressor; the sealant-and-sensor NOTICE is General Motors service bulletin 07-03-16-004E. Mazda and Honda give different compressor duty cycles (ten minutes and fifteen minutes) for two different compressors, which is not a conflict under sourcing.md and is published as a per-kit limit rather than reconciled.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

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