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).
Letter responding to a query about carrying two spare wheels, tyre mileage, and luggage carrying schemes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\2\ Scan072 | |
| Date | 3rd August 1933 | |
| X1995. Experimental Dept. Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KT. August 3rd, 1933. Mr.B.Hopps, Messrs Lodge Plugs Ltd., Rugby. Dear Hopps, Thank you for your letter of the 1st Aug. Replying to you query re. carrying two spare wheels, we should like to be able to convince you that it is unnecessary to carry more than one spare. We have been into the matter fairly thoroughly and find that when driving a car to its utmost limit in the hottest weather, it is possible to get more than 4000 miles on a set of tyres. Driving in an ordinary manner these tyres will give 10-15,000 miles on modern roads where punctures are a rarity. In Europe tyre distribution is very good indeed. The only provision we can make for a second spare wheel is to put it on the side which spoils the appearance of the car With regard to road holding, I found, when I got back the other day, that the tyres on the open car were perfectly smooth, which accounts for its somewhat strange behaviour. With a saloon I am convinced there will be no complaints of rear wheel spin. We think that your scheme for carrying luggage is an excellent one. London coachbuilders are also making provision for opening out the boot at the back by swinging the spare wheel down, and when the boot is full there is a platform left for further luggage. We should prefer your scheme as, as you say, it keeps the luggage clean and the centre of gravity down. I hope you have a good time in Scotland, and the weather behaves to our mutual satisfaction. Yours sincerely, | ||