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).
Customer complaints and potential causes for rapid front tyre wear on the Wraith model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\2\ scan0054 | |
| Date | 17th August 1939 | |
| 1339 De/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} from Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} C. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C. DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} C. Mv. Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}15/G.17.8.39. FRONT TYRE WEAR ON WRAITH. [Handwritten initials: ZAH] Your De/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}6/G.11.8.39. on the above subject is interesting. Actually, there have been a lot more complaints than you mention because in a number of cases the front tyres have worn more quickly than the rears, and, of course, most people expect the reverse of this. Your remarks on the effects of toe-in are confirmed by past experience, and we have always reduced this to the absolute minimum in cases of complaint. When the early Phantom II cars were sent out with 3/8" toe-in, we had a real epidemic of unevenly worn front tyres, and we reduced the toe-in to 1/16". We have never found any ill effects from having little or no toe-in. Humbers say they have not had a single complaint of excessive front tyre wear which could be attributed to independent suspension as such, but they say that front tyre wear has increased for the simple reason that the suspension allows them to travel faster over bad road surfaces and to corner much faster than was safe on the old axle suspension. They do not believe in much toe-in. Our Outside Service people and Inspecting Engineers are asking for some explanation of this rapid wear, as it is a point which often crops up in the course of conversation with customers. We therefore propose to circulate the information so far available. [Handwritten initials: FJH{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}] Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} | ||