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).
Feasibility and effects of fitting snow chains to front wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\1\ scan0149 | |
| Date | 1st November 1937 | |
| P/S - U. From Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} a.{Mr Adams} SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} b. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Ox. e.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hx. f.{Mr Friese} JRC. g.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} J.S. h.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Wn. 1339 RmS/A.C.11.37. SKID TYRES ON BENTLEY CARS. Replying to C16/04.11.37:- (1) In order to establish the effect of fouls on full lock, we took a car on the Skid Pan before we made our recommendations with regard to large tyres. It was quite clear from the noise that the chains were fouling the side steering tube and the shock absorber arm respectively. The side steering tube situation would, of course, become no worse than at present, because we already warn customers not to put chains on the offside front wheels. In the case of the nearside wheel, it is difficult to imagine that the customer could do any damage other than wear his chains out. (2) The recommendation with regard to chains on the front wheels dates back, we believe, to the earliest four wheel brake days. Experience has since proved that it is unnecessary. We have taken cars over the alps in winter, and over the Sierra Nevada in Spain under snowy conditions with chains on the rear wheels only, and have experienced no trouble whatever. We also did 3,000 miles in Canada and America under severe conditions of ice and snow without chains being fitted to the front wheels. During our recent visit to the U.S.A. we made a special point of enquiring about chains being fitted to front wheels. We could not discover anyone who thought this was necessary, nor did we observe anybody driving about in America with chains on the front wheels. For two or three months in the winter, large sections of the Middle West are, of course, covered with snow and ice. | ||