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).
The trial of Goodrich tyres, focusing on their silence compared to Dunlop and MA-2 tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\1\ scan0077 | |
| Date | 14th June 1932 | |
| Y2679. S/W Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C10/C14.6.32 Re TYRES. We have had presented to us through the Managing Director of the Goodrich Rubber Co.Ltd. two sets of Goodrich tyres of a pattern which they consider silent. We have tried them on our Trials cars, and PN.{Mr Northey} reports upon them as follows:- "Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} and I had an opportunity of testing a set of the special tyres supplied by the Goodrich Co. for silence only, and as I informed you our impression was a very good one; the sound was not excessive and was of a rumbling description - that is, not a musical note, or one varying in pitch. We considered these treads, in respect of silence, would be satisfactory. Later in the day I made a similar test with a 20/25 having a set of Goodrich tyres fitted, and my impressions were similar with this car. Unfortunately in one sense, there has been no opportunity of testing these Goodrich treads for non-slipping. The appearance of the tyres leads one to believe that they will be good in this respect in comparison with the Dunlop we are at present supplying." I tried them with Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and we rather thought that at the lower speeds at any rate, they were not quite as silent as the MA-2 tyres. We have not been able to test them in other respects, such as non-skidding and life, and I was wondering whether you would like us to send either one set or both up to you at the first opportunity, for you to try out and see if you think they are as good as or better than the Dunlop proposed new treads, because we ought to make a decision pretty quickly in regard to these tyres. C. [Handwritten signature: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}] [Handwritten note:] Please reply, I should think we should be foolish to change our standard in 1 or 2 weeks. WR [Stamp:] RECEIVED 5 JUN 1932 | ||