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).
Noise and vibration issues on Chassis No. 120-LC, attributed to Dunlop high-pressure tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan433 | |
| Date | 10th February 1927 | |
| BJ. Copy to:- C. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} FR. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HP. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X4117 OWR10/GM/10-2-27. Re: Chassis No. 120-LC - Spyer. This car was recently brought to my notice in connection with a complaint. It is certainly a most unpleasant car to ride in. There is a considerable amount of noise at all times in the body, but at certain speeds these noises become considerably intensified, roughly at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 etc. m.p.h. The car is fitted with Dunlop high pressure traction tread tyres and the wheels are fitted with discs. After several tests I formed the opinion that these noises were entirely due to tyres and arranged for a set of perfectly plain tyres to be fitted. These were all of the beaded edge type and the pair on the back wheels were of a canvas construction. With these tyres the car was absolutely silent under all conditions of speed and road. Recently I have thought that more and more cars show signs of these noises from the tyres. I am not referring to the ordinary whistle or a gradually rising note which the tyres make on smooth roads, but to a groaning, which is also felt as a vibration through the car which certain tyres cause on certain cars. It may be the reason why I have thought such cases are becoming more common is, that recently I have been out more often than usual, on cars which have run for some considerable distance, anything from 2 to 20,000 miles and that therefore tyres are more often worn; but this does not alter the seriousness of the position which is that the quietness of both our chassis and the bodies fitted to them are being seriously compromised by the tyres, either by certain tyres when new and throughout their life, or by tyres in general on certain cars if they have become worn to some extent. This matter needs the most careful attention and I suggest, as the best method of giving this attention, that we should approach Mr. Spyer's requesting him to let us have his car for say a month and loaning to him a car | ||