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).
Disadvantages of fitting larger section 'India' tyres over the standard Dunlop tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan199 | |
| Date | 1st January 1930 | |
| W/S. To C. From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to CX.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to SY. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X 7380 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/MJ.1.1.30. LARGE SECTION TYRES INDIA & OTHERS. We understand from Mr. Bailey that Sales are pressing for all cars to have the wheel arch clearances modified to take 'India' tyres. The 'India' tyre is a larger tyre than the 6.75" Dunlop tyre for 21" rim which we fit as standard. The position with regard to these larger section tyres is that we have persistently refused to accept them as standard from Messrs: Dunlops because, though they are advantageous from the tyre makers' point of view in that they give longer life, they have a number of disadvantages from the chassis makers' point of view. These objections are :- (1) They raise the car. (2) As they wear, they make the steering unpleasant for shunting owing to the increased width of tread. (3) They have a tendency to spoil the steering selectivity and to make it heavy and uncertain up to 30 m.p.h. (4) The steering lock is decreased owing to the increased diameter of the tyre. (5) The chassis weight on the set of six tyres is increased by 40 to 50 lbs. (6) The larger tyre has the tendency to ride hard at low speeds. | ||