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).
Letter from Seiberling Rubber Company to The Avon India Rubber Co. Ltd. regarding the development of wide base tires.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 156\3\ scan0216 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1940 | |
| COPY. SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY AKRON, OHIO. October, 2. 1940. Major R F Fuller J P The Avon India Rubber Co. Ltd. Melksham, Wiltshire. Attention - Dr. J.C. Mackay. Dear Dr. Mackay:- We acknowledge your letter of August 27th. and note that you wish to be kept posted on developments in this country on wide base tires. We shall be glad to comply with that request. At a Tire and Rim Association sub-committee meeting in September, the subject of wide base tires was discussed at some length. As you know, from the information I sent you previously, the original program called for new tyres as well as new rims. At the latest meeting it was decided that a program which would permit the use of existing tires on wider rims would be more advantageous than the original proposal, for several reasons. Experience of some of the larger companies indicated that a satisfactory new program would be worked out for using existing tires on wider rims providing new flanges were designed for the purpose. The original EW, FW and GW flange shapes were not considered satisfactory for use with existing tires. On the attached sheet I have shown the new program which was agreed upon by the sub-committee and which will be submitted to car manufacturers for their consideration for use on 1942 models. You will note that the manufacturer is permitted a choice of several combinations of rims for a given tire, ranging between existing practice and the extreme wide base practice. The heights of the L, M and N flanges have been set up but flange radii have not yet been established. Load and inflation tables for the new wide base program have not yet been drawn up. This information will bring you up to date on the subject of wide base tires and as soon as any new developments take place we shall write you again. Rims with the new flanges are, of course, not yet available but when they are we expect to start our testing program and shall advise you of the results. Very truly yours, E.H. Gibbs (Signed) Manager. Foreign Plant Service. | ||