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).
Tyre noise issues, conversations with Dunlop, and potential solutions like subframe mounting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\2\ Scan016 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1927 | |
| To CWD. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. O.{Mr Oldham} c. to eg. PN.{Mr Northey} c. to BR.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} XL4050 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG12. 2.27. TYRE NOISES. XLH17 Replying to CWB10/GM10. 2.27. The question of tyre noise has been taken up with the heads of the Development Dept. at Dunlops, also their Physicist Mr. Healey. We have in the past demonstrated to them the groaning noise and vibration which comes from the tyres. They have taken a sympathetic interest in the matter but they point out that tyres, like a motorcar, are a compromise. They have a whole range of conditions to fulfil; they do not know how to produce a silent tyre without jeopardising, in their view, more important features. They are aware of the virtues of the canvas tyres but of course no one, for one minute, would suggest that we went back to canvas tyres. We do not think any good at all would be done by tackling the tyre maker to produce 'special R-R tyres'. We consider the solution for this trouble is a subframe mounting for bodies; by that means we can reduce very considerably the vibrations which get through to the body. This was the purpose of the subframe. Sales reported that they were having so very little trouble with body noise on the Phantom that they considered the subframe unnecessary. We suggest a useful test would be to compare Mr. Spyer's car with 8-EX experimental car mounted on a subframe and change the tyres from one car to the other. We cannot blame the tyre maker if the car we have supplied to Mr. Spyer is especially bad for shewing up these noises. I should expect him to tell us to make our car standard before we criticise the tyres. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||