“Mr. Beaver, you are probably going to think this is a joke,” began a phone call from a Central California reader, “but believe me, it is not. We were in an Albertson’s market in the Los Angeles area and saw a new kind of toilet paper made from bamboo on sale for a low, introductory price of $5.99 for 12 mega rolls, 400 two ply sheets. It is called Sensational Bamboo.

“The package describes the paper as ‘Soft and Elegant Premium Bath Tissue, tree-free, from highly sustainable environmentally-friendly bamboo-based resources, making it a more eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to trees.’

“We had never heard of toilet paper made from bamboo, so right there in the store with our three children, we researched the item and learned that bamboo can replace cotton and wood for many consumer uses.

“As environmentally aware high school teachers, we instill this concept in our children, and like the idea of bathroom tissue from a renewable source. With the really attractive price–about half of what you would usually pay for the same quantity–we purchased several packages, went home and replaced all of our toilet paper rolls with the bamboo product, and then, uh, waited until morning to give it a test.

“Mom! Yuck!!”

“Our kids are 8, 12 and 14, usually up well before me and my husband, and they are very considerate, rarely making noise. However, that was not the case the next morning, when I was awoken by Tracie, our 8-year-old, who yelled, ‘Mom, yuck! It hurts!’

“So, we ran to the bathroom and found lengths of toilet paper on the floor all torn in an odd way, as if someone was trying to shred the sheets. We asked Tracie what was wrong, and was she making a mess with the toilet paper?

“No mom, I wasn’t, but it didn’t tear right, and it is not very soft,” she replied.

“By this time, our other kids were all up, and they had the same comments, that the paper didn’t tear the way other toilet paper does, and wasn’t very soft.

“When it was time for us to test this new Soft and Elegant Bath Tissue, we had the same experience. While not sandpaper, it was inferior to major brands and did not tear properly. As you watch out for the consumer, we thought this could be interesting.”

Flushing out the facts

The only other time we wrote about toilet paper was years ago when readers raised a stink about Costco selling what appeared to be waterproof toilet paper — coated with too much manufacturing wax, refusing to get wet.

To flush out the facts and verify our reader’s complaint, we purchased a 12-pack of Sensational Bamboo bath tissue and, had the same, less than sensational results. Premium bath tissue it is not. While at this price it is acceptable, still the paper isn’t terribly soft and does not tear on the perforations, which explains 8 year old Tracie’s reaction.

Clearly on a roll, we phoned the manufacturer, Green Hygenics, based in Cape Coral, Florida, spoke with office manager Michelle, and were blown away by her openness and honesty.

“Yes, we have problems with the paper shredding and not tearing correctly due to poor perforations,” she told us. “Also, what you purchased is not as soft as earlier production runs. While the initial product run was done correctly, some of what Albertson’s, is selling now is not to the quality standards we expect,” she acknowledged.

“So what happened?” we asked.

Fox guarding the chicken coop

Her answer is a textbook reason why oversight in any business is so critical, and we will bet that Sensational Bamboo will become a case study for business administration majors.

It is the perfect example of what happens when you let the fox guard the chicken coop — and proof of just how correct President Ronald Reagan was, when negotiating with the Russians over nuclear weapons, stated, ‘Trust but verify.’ ”

“We contract manufacturing of our paper to a company in China,” Michelle explained.

“We trusted their quality control supervisor to watch out for us. That did not happen and now we have our own person on site. Also, we are greatly improving the product and in a few months it will be much softer and will tear correctly,” she pointed out.

“Albertson’s is aware of the problem and will refund the purchase price to any dissatisfied customer,” she added.

Would we buy it again?

The kind of honesty shown by Michelle merits the reward of a second chance, in our opinion. Yes, we would absolutely buy their bath tissue again, and will, in a few months.

You might say this was not a total wipe out!

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

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Following our recent articles on deceptive-range claims made by manufacturers of consumer walkie talkies, we were contacted by “Hank,” a reader in California’s Central Valley whose agriculture and ranching-related business requires using FCC-licensed, commercial two-way radios and, as his email notes, “which are expensive — and not something you want to replace without a very good reason.”

He was hours away from doing just that until his wife suggested contacting You and the Law. With the help of a friend of this column, Ben Burns, CEO of Harbor City-based Discount Two Way Radio, we were able to keep a con’s hands out of Hank’s pocket.

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve been getting phone calls from a salesman at the company who sold us our existing radios about six years ago. His most recent call seemed urgent. He said that unless we replace all of our radios with current technology, digital units in order to operate legally — something about an FCC narrow-band requirement — I could lose my license and face a possible $16,000 daily fine.

“The price quoted for these new radios was $22,000. I don’t want to get into trouble with the FCC and we depend on radios in our work, so I was really worried,” he wrote.

No need to buy new radios — no such FCC digital qequirement

“Your reader is one of many people who are hearing the same completely false message about the need to replace existing radios with the newer digital technology,” Burns told us.

“Business, school districts, even police and fire departments all over America are being told by unethical and dishonest sales reps that they have to replace their analog radios with digital. But, generally, if your existing analog units are less than 10 years old, they can be easily reprogrammed to meet the FCC narrow-band requirements, which became law in January 2013 and allow for a better use of the radio spectrum.

“Reprogramming is very simple, with some radio dealers charging $50 a radio, and many others, like our company, doing it for free.

“But what if your radios are too old or cannot be reprogrammed to meet these FCC requirements?” we asked.

“Then you will need to purchase new units,” Burns points out, “but this does not mean you have to buy digital equipment. And I must stress this point. Even though we sell digital radios, I would like your readers to know that for most applications, you don’t need them. Save your money.”

Digital is in its infancy — remember Beta Max-VHS-Blue Ray-HD-DVD?

“Yes, digital two-way radio is a great technology, has many advantages over analog and the industry is moving in that direction, but it is in its infancy just like the Beta Max vs. VHS, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD with no one standard yet a clear winner,” he stressed.

“At present, digital is very expensive when compared to analog and in most cases, you don’t need it. No one should be frightened or feel threatened into making any buying decision, and that’s what is so irritating about these unscrupulous, commission-chasing radio salespeople,” concluded Burns, CEO of one of America’s largest retailers of two-way radio equipment for business, government and public safety.

Must replace your older radios? Cash for Clunkers

We asked John Strand, a now-retired AT&T Central California supervisor of network operations, to explain “narrow banding” and why it is so important:

“It’s a two-for-one, allowing twice as many users to be in the same radio spectrum, like fitting 20 quarts of milk in the same space as 10 took up before.

“But if you are not narrow-banded, then your transmissions will likely cause interference with other radio users — which we call splatter — often serious enough to disrupt communications, not to mention the possible trouble you could get into with the FCC.”

So, let’s say your radios are too old to be reprogrammed and must be replaced. Prior to the FCC requirement becoming effective, both radio manufacturers and retailers had attractive trade-in programs. Most — but not all — have ended.

Reminiscent of the 2009 “Cash for Clunkers” federal program to encourage buying new cars, Burns along with RCA has a similar, trade-in allowance program, with online videos hosted by Erik Estrada from the Chips television series, which ran from 1977 to 1983.

If you enjoyed Chips, then watching Estrada’s infomercial may bring back memories of a different, perhaps a more carefree, happier time in your life. The information is useful, and you’ll get a kick out of Estrada, in his uniform, selling radios. He was a nice guy in the TV series, and still is.

You’ll find it on www.discounttwo-wayradio.com.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

The post Business two-way radio owners target of scam appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

Have you purchased a pair of walkie-talkies which claimed in bold, large print on the package a range of anywhere from 6 to 50 miles, taken them home, charged the batteries and then discovered that these radios barely let you talk a couple of blocks from your house?

Did you think, “What am I doing wrong? What’s going on here?”

That was precisely what Kingsburg reader “Sammy” thought. His experience illustrates why, in our legal opinion and the opinion of telecommunications experts from England and the U.S. who we have interviewed, a massive — and hugely profitable — fraud is being waged, industrywide, by manufacturers of consumer two-way radios.

We believe that action by both state and the Federal Trade Commission is needed against not only manufacturers, but retailers who have become co-conspirators, fully aware of exaggerated range claims which customers will likely never realize, but which sell.

Technically accurate statements can still be misleading

Before Sammy’s story — and our findings — let’s answer this question: “What makes an advertisement ‘deceptive?’” According to the Federal Trade Commission:

• It is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances.

• It is material — important to a consumer’s decision to buy or use the product.

A statement can be technically correct, yet still misleading, when it implies far more about a product’s performance than the typical user would realistically see, leaving a false impression which leads to a buying decision.

The makers of consumer walkie-talkies were handed an advertising pot of gold in June 2000 which proved that under the right — but extraordinarily rare conditions — it is possible for these low-powered radios to communicate very long distances.

At an elevation of 8,000 feet on Oregon’s Mt. Hood, a seriously injured climber said a prayer, pushed transmit on his half-watt Family Radio Service walkie-talkie — used to communicate with other climbers — and asked anyone who heard the call to please summon help.

Seventy miles away in the town of McMinnville, two brothers, 5 and 7 — who received a pair of these little radios as a Christmas present — heard the distress call, told their dad and lives were saved.

“This was the perfect example of the advertising claims made by these manufacturers as both consumer and commercial two-way radios are line of sight. If there is a clear path — no obstructions, cars, buildings, foliage, houses, nothing in between the radios — and you have a significant difference in elevation — they can communicate over great distances.

“But how often will you be at 8,000 feet speaking to someone who just happens to be tuned to the same frequency and is 70 miles away?”

That question was asked by now-retired AT&T Supervisor of Network Operations for Central California, John Strand, of Lake Isabella. Strand’s work specialties included VHF and UHF two-way radio systems. He has been an amateur radio operator since 1962.

“Once, over flat desert, we got 6 miles with 5-watt professional radios, using proper antennas. Today’s small, handheld consumer radios typically use the rubber duck variety, which frequently are not the preferred length. In all my years in communications, I have never come remotely close to even 10 miles, over any terrain, even with professional 5-watt radios, unless repeaters were used,” he tells You and the Law.

“The problem with the way these radios are being sold,” Strand feels. “Is the exception — distances that most buyers will never come anywhere close to — that manufacturers present as what you can expect.

“But if they made no claim, or told you that a few hundred feet is all that you will see under many if not most conditions, how many radios would they sell?

“Sure, the package might say ‘25 miles under optimal conditions,’ and possibly illustrate shortened range with typical usage, but I believe that most buyers will only think of the big, not the small number.”

We agree.

Lunch at Costco, dessert at Sam’s Club

Our Kingsburg reader, Sammy — who enjoys meeting his friends and the free food samples at Sam’s Club and Costco — purchased a pair of 35-mile range radios he found at both stores, only to discover “less than half a mile on the high power setting! And we were standing on the same, level, residential street! I felt so ripped off that I took them back!” he told us, asking, “How can they make such outrageous claims?”

He’s not alone in asking that question.

We purchased the same radios, used them identically and also got about half a mile.

Only one manufacturer would speak with us, but when asked, “Why, with your 5-watt commercial radios using correct length antennas do you not make range claims?” at first there was silence.

And then, static.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

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“I cannot tell you who I work for, but if you go to Costco and find a bubble package of Motorola Talkabout 2-Way Radios, flip it over and read the information that describes how far–the range–you can get, I think you will be very pleased.”

Thus began an extraordinary phone call, the result of two articles we wrote earlier this year: Walkie-Talkies With a 35 Mile Range and Deceptive Walkie-Talkie Range Claims Ripping off Buyers.

To review briefly, our reader, Sammy, a member of Sam’s Club and Costco, “Found Motorola Talkabout radios on sale at both stores, and the 35 mile range claim on the package really sold me,” he told You and the Law.

But he only got less than ½ a mile, in a residential area, the same distance we obtained in our tests.

The articles did not mention any manufacturer by name, because they all make similar range claims.

“The only radios claiming a 35 mile range sold by those two stores were from Motorola,” my mystery caller stated. “You got some very serious discussions started at high levels. Accurate and much more useful information on the package was needed, and I think you’ll agree that now a buyer will have a better understanding of the range you can reasonably expect, under real-world conditions.”

How do you go from 35 miles to only half mile?

So, how do you get less than half a mile when the package states 35 miles?

“The answer lies in understanding how two-way radio waves travel,” retired AT&T Supervisor of Network Operations for Central California, John Strand of Lake Isabella told us. A radio amateur since 1962, Strand worked extensively with UHF and VHF radio systems.

“With no obstructions or structures, including houses, cars, trees, thick foliage–and we’re out in the open, at the same height–then 6 miles is as far as we can communicate. But if I am on a mountain, and you are in the valley below with no obstructions between us, this is optimal and great distances are possible.

“So when we see 12, 16, 20, 24, 35, even 50 miles on the package, these are feasible under extremely unique conditions and not the way most buyers will ever use the radios,” he points out.

“Give them to your kids who are out bicycling, to stay in touch with mom and dad, and once they round the corner and are out of sight, forget it! Only expect a couple of blocks– half a mile to a mile at most–in virtually all situations,” Strand underscores.

Now buyers have clear range guidelines – Motorola deserves praise

“It is very rare for a company to self-correct false or potentially misleading advertising,” San Francisco-based attorney, Bruce Simon told You and the Law. He is regarded as one of the nation’s leading experts in false advertising and co-author of “California Unfair Competition and Business Torts.”

“Motorola deserves praise for these actions. Usually it takes a lawsuit, but your articles appear to have been a wake-up call, and someone woke up.”

So, what does the package now look like?

For starters, the 35 mile range claim is still there, with a prominent asterisk, and this language: “Actual range will vary depending upon terrain and conditions – See package back for additional information.”

Turn it over, and you find well-done illustrations of expected communication distances:

• Optimal/Mountain to Valley, up to 35 miles;
• Medium/Lake, up to 9 miles;
• Minimal/Urban up to 2 miles.

In our legal opinion, if a buyer reads all the information on the package, there is no way to argue with a straight face “I really thought I’d get 35 miles everywhere.”

When compared with the glaring lack of information on radios sold by some other manufacturers, Motorola’s approach can only be seen as consumer friendly, a real stand-out.

Will the authorities get involved?

“You can’t un-ring a bell, and there are no doubt past buyers who feel mislead, deprived of critical information which would have influenced their buying decision,” Simon notes.

“It would not surprise me if the Federal Trade Commission or a state’s attorney general looked into these range claims from all the two-way radio manufacturers,” he believes.

In fact, after our stories came out, we were contacted by an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices, and it will be interesting to see what, if anything, they do.

Next time, along with attorney Simon, we’re taking a look at the word free in a radio ad stating, “You can get the program for free, just tell us what you think about it.”

But when you call, they want to charge you $20 for shipping and handling, and that’s just the beginning.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

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“Mr. Beaver, we live in an area with hard water, so we always use a liquid fabric softener, generally Downy or similar brands. We have seasonal allergies, but the perfumes and scents in these products has never been a problem, and we have not found them to be overpowering or irritating, no matter how much of the product was used.

“Because most liquid softeners contain some oil or wax, they make towels less absorbent and are not for use with children’s sleepwear. I recently found Purex Complete Crystals, which is added to the wash water, not at the end. It promises to soften better than oil-based liquids and is safe for children’s clothing.

“The first time we tried it, the scent was so overpowering, so incredibly strong, we literally had to turn off the A/C and open all windows and doors. We felt weird, creepy, began sneezing and it lasted for hours. The scent got into everything, and we had to rewash the clothing and towels several times to get rid of this horrible scent. Isn’t there some federal law or standards for these scented or fragranced products?”

Ever hear of secondhand scents?

“We all know about the risks of secondhand smoke, but we need to bring attention to the risks of secondhand scents,” maintains Anne Steinemann, who is both professor of civil and environmental engineering and public affairs at the University of Washington at Seattle.

She is one of the country’s most knowledgeable university academics in the area of fragrances, perfumes and toxic chemicals in consumer products. We asked for her comments on our reader’s experience.

“The public needs to become aware of the dangers caused by fragranced products, which are currently exempt from federal regulations for ingredient disclosure,” she began.

“I have had hundreds of people contact me by phone and email, telling how sick they get from fragranced dryer sheets, laundry detergents, cleaning products, air fresheners, deodorizers, hand sanitizers, lotions, soaps, shampoos and scented candles. These products cause serious health problems in a significant percentage of the population.

“We are talking about seizures, migraine headaches, asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, rashes, swollen eyes, throat irritations, fevers, loss of consciousness and more,” she points out.

“A single air freshener can cause a seizure, an asthma attack, a migraine or anaphylactic shock. The number and consistency of reports of people getting sick from products that are supposed to be pleasing is overwhelming evidence this problem is real, huge and unregulated.”

Industry’s response – they are safe

“The Industry’s typical response is that they have tested these products, found them to be safe, but in those which do contain hazardous chemicals, the levels are so low that it does not matter. But low levels do add up. Smoking cigarettes adds up. Do it every day and we know what happens,” she points out.

“Also, some of the chemicals found in these products have no safe exposure level, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That means even one molecule is not safe to inhale,” she stressed.

Organic and green are not what you think

“But what about organic or green, or all natural fragranced products, aren’t they safer?” I asked.

“You would think so,” she replied, “But that is not the necessarily the case. Fragranced products that call themselves green, organic, all natural, or with essential oils still contain hazardous chemicals, and often just as many as regular brands.

“There is no definition or regulation of organic or green when it concerns consumer products: for food, yes, but not for consumer products. I have tested organic air fresheners and they emit hazardous chemicals, even ones with no safe exposure levels, just like just like regular brands.”

Feeling sick

“Just as your reader commented, when you feel sick after being exposed to these scented products, your body is telling you to get away from it, and just stop using it as soon as possible,” she recommends.

“More than 35 percent of the population is sensitive to fragranced products, while about 20 percent is exquisitely sensitive. While it is almost impossible to avoid all chemical exposure, fragrance-free products are generally better,” she told us.

Online, there were both positive and highly negative user comments about the fragrance of Purex Crystals. Testing the same type as my reader used, we found clothing and towels were soft, but our house reeked of an overpowering and horribly irritating floral fragrance. We had to air it out – for hours – and rewash everything. My wife got a sneezing attack. I got yelled at.

Purex was contacted and asked for their comments on their new fabric softener. It has been weeks, and we’re still waiting for their response..

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

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Have you been thinking about buying a pair of walkie talkies, perhaps for use while camping, car-to-car communications or keeping in touch with your kids while they’re out bicycling in the neighborhood?

Consumer two-way radios are sold just about everywhere — Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Office Depot, the list goes on — and for well under $100, the technology crammed into them is truly unbelievable.

And there’s much more that’s unbelievable.

A lot people who purchased these radios have good reason to believe that someone is just begging to be sued for false advertising. That “someone” includes just about every manufacturer of these radios, and retailers who know full well that they have put on their floor products which, when used as advertised, don’t deliver.

We are talking about grossly exaggerated range claims — the distance stated or implied — that you can reasonably expect to communicate. And when some of these radios claim, on their package, “perfect for emergency preparedness,” knowing just how short a distance the radio’s range is likely to be, an Academy Award for cynicism is merited.

So, before opening your wallet, when you are in the store, grab your cellphone, go into any search engine and type the name and model of the radio you’re looking at and “walkie talkie exaggerated range claims,” “false advertising,” “fraud,” “consumer fraud” or other variations.

For technical help with our story, we would like to thank Ian Poole, editor of Radio-Electronics.com, who spoke to us from his office in Surrey, England, and from Ben Burns, CEO of Discount Two Way Radio (www.discounttwo-wayradio.com) in Harbor City, who specializes in radios for police, fire and commercial applications.

‘Two blocks — half a mile at most — around the corner, forget it!’

“I often hear from people who have every right to feel a victim of deceptive advertising, when they only got about two blocks, a half a mile at most, and if one of them walked around the corner, forget it!” Burns stated.

“Seeing ‘18-mile range’ in big red letters, or 24, 35 and one even claims 50 miles, the average consumer reasonably expects to be able to communicate over that stated distance, or something fairly close to what the box shows. I would compare this with auto mileage per gallon statements. We don’t expect to get precisely what the manufacturer claims, but if we’re close, that’s OK.

“Could you imagine if some impressive MPG claim was the result of coasting downhill in neutral? Of course not, as cars aren’t tested that way. But radio manufacturers obtain their amazing range figures under conditions which do not reflect the way these radios are actually used in the real world, using true but misleading numbers to sell the product.

“No kidding, they have someone standing on top of a mountain, or on the roof of a tall building and the other person miles away, with no structures or any obstructions in between. They will typically use the term ‘line of sight,’ and most people have no idea what that means,” Burns observes, adding, “and then the box that the radios come in often shows them in the forest, or for emergency communications — all the uses which you cannot possibly rely on them to deliver.”

Poole explains the significance of the term “line of sight”:

“These are line-of-sight radios, so as long as you can see the other person — no obstructions or structures in between which interfere with their low power transmissions — you can generally communicate over long distances with good equipment, especially if your radios have good antennas.

“But even if you are both standing in the middle of the same street as these radios are generally 1/2 up to 1 1/2 watts and use very small antennas, you’re lucky with half a mile. Radio waves don’t like trees, foliage, buildings, cars, concrete, metal, all the things you find in a city, and that’s why a couple of blocks is all that you can generally expect to get under those conditions,” he points out.

“Just think, if these consumer two-way radios worked as they claim on the box, everyone would have one and there would be no need to have a cellphone! Or the hundreds of thousands of dollars police and fire departments could save by simply handing out $35 radios to their staff?” Burns commented with just the right amount of sarcasm in his voice.

The distance claims are a perfect example of “What the big print gives, the small print takes away,” as Kingsburg reader “Sammy” would discover one Saturday afternoon after “munching my way through two of my favorite stores, Costco and Sam’s Club.”

Next time: his story and our test results.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

The post Walkie talkies with a 35-mile range? appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

“About a year ago I purchased a new 3 Series BMW. Now, I love the car but only learned last week that it has what are called Run Flat Tires. Before buying the car I had never heard of Run Flat Tires,” Darrell’s email began.

“I picked up a nail sometime ago and only became aware of it when I glanced at the car’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System light and it didn’t look normal.  But I do not really know how long it was telling me that I had a problem with one of my tires,” he continued.

“I drove to a local tire store and was told that the tire could not be patched and had to be replaced even though the nail was not on the sidewall.  The car runs fine, handles normally, and I have the feeling that they are just trying to sell me a $400 tire I don’t need.

“I read your column in the Hanford Sentinel every week and trust your recommendation. Am I being scammed? Is it true that these tires can’t be patched or are they like any other tire and generally repairable?

Run Flats are truly amazing tires but controversial

As we would soon learn, unless you own a BMW, Mercedes or some Ford products, or have actually experienced these amazing tires, most people haven’t heard of them, have no idea why they are called run flats, their benefits—and drawbacks—or why certain auto manufacturers are using these controversial tires.

We would also learn that one tire maker is about to offer them as replacements for conventional tires, even on vehicles not originally designed to use run flats.

And so, for a “Run-Flats 101” we spoke with Chris Maka, Senior Account Manager in Detroit for Continental Tire Company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automotive Original Equipment tires.

“In our cars, we are riding on the compressed air in the tires which supports the vehicle. So, when we have a flat, and the tire collapses, we aren’t going anywhere until it is changed.

“Now suppose, you pick up a nail, lose air, just like your reader, but the tire doesn’t collapse and the rim is not damaged. The tire remains intact, supporting your car’s weight and enabling you to continue driving 50 miles at 55 mph.  And, even when you look at it, chances are that it will appear just fine. That’s the idea behind Run Flat Tires, part of what we call an Extended Mobility System,” he added.

“These tires have very sturdy, reinforced sidewalls which help to support a car even when the tire itself is deflated.  They are so effective that drivers may not even notice a thing wrong, which is how your reader described his experience.

“But they should only be used in conjunction with a fully functioning tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and it is critical for safety that attention is paid to warnings of low tire pressure which all vehicles using these tires must have. This was something your reader unfortunately failed to do.”

Should Run Flats be repaired?  How far can I drive?

“This situation is a good example of why we at Continental do not recommend repairing a run flat tire.  Darrell did not know when the tire had lost air or how long he had been driving on it that way. There is no good way to know how severe the puncture is or what kinds of damage has been done to the tire. The integrity of any run flat tire can degrade, making it much less safe, so replacement is always the safe way to go,” he stressed.

As 50 miles doesn’t seem like a long distance, we learned from Maka that the driving distance on a “flat” run flat can be extended to 125 miles by using their Conti Comfort Kit. This consists of a 12 volt air compressor plus leak sealant and is extremely easy to use, as we found out by actually trying one out and obtaining a thumbs-up from the manager of a well-known local tire shop.

It is available from TireRack.com for $79.

These are controversial tires

“Buy a car with run flats and here is what you don’t get,” the service manager of one car dealership told us on condition of not revealing his name.

* You don’t get a spare tire.

* You don’t get the space for a spare.

* You don’t get any tools to change a tire!

“The only reason for these tires is to reduce vehicle weight and a slight increase in mileage.  But if you want most BMW’s, Mercedes and a few Ford products, that’s what you’re stuck with.

“This makes you think twice about road trips, unfortunately.”

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield and enjoys hearing from his readers. Contact Dennis Beaver.

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