From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Tests conducted to improve vehicle riding qualities, focusing on loading, steering, and tyres.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\2July1926-September1926\ Scan069 | |
| Date | 20th August 1926 guessed | |
| contd :- -4- improve the riding qualities of the car on bad roads. We carried out a number of tests increasing their high pressure loading. While this did somewhat increase their effectiveness in damping out high speed wobbles, we know that any loading above 100 lbs. is likely to effect low speed riding. Therefore we cannot go very far on this side. We have not yet been able to test an increased low pressure loading, we feel that there are possibilities in this direction. Spare wheel on the back. We made a test of high speed steering control by fitting a spare wheel on the luggage grid. The selectiveness of the steering of this car was quite perceptibly improved by this extra addition. This was undoubtedly due to the fact that the rear of the car held the road much better. The object of the test was to demonstrate that with a spare wheel on the back it might be possible to fit weaker side steering tube springs to counteract road shocks. Side steering tube. While friction does slightly reduce road shocks of greater magnitude, it is apparent that the most hopeful avenue of effecting an improvement in this direction is the side steering tube. Attached is a report of some tests that we have already carried out. To be sent later. Tyres. The 6.75 tyres on 12-EX. increase the riding comfort of the car very considerably over bad roads. Taken all round, the steering with these tyres is better than with standard high pressure tyres. We have done sufficient tests to contd :- | ||