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 Melbourne regarding tyre pressures and steering on Phantom models, suggesting modifications for Australian road conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\2\ Scan195 | |
| Date | 22th November 1926 | |
| C/o All British Motor Co. Pty. Ltd., 109- 113 Russell Street, MELBOURNE. Re instructions regarding Tyre Pressures on Page 10 of Phantom Instruction Book, I wish to point out that though these tyre pressures may be desirable in England, where roads are good and high speeds possible, yet it is utterly impossible to sit in a Rolls-Royce on Australian roads with the tyre pressures advocated; nor should such pressures be necessary on account of high speeds, because the condition of the roads very effectually damps out any enthusiasm for high speeds. I suggest therefore that the paragraph dealing with this subject should be modified, and that you should admit that lower pressures and tighter shock absorber setting will give better results on bad Colonial roads; and that the objection to low pressures at speed is considerably lessened under Colonial conditions. Otherwise we shall be getting a very bad name so far as the comfort of our cars is concerned - especially as we have been taking such an uncompromising attitude towards the question of balloon tyres; and people are apt to point out that a Hudson car at one-sixth the price of ours is more comfortable to ride in. I sincerely hope that for the sake of your future overseas trade, you will shortly be permitting the use of medium pressure tyres with the new type steering on New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I models, as this will have an enormous bearing on sales. Would you mind instructing that a Phantom Instruction Book be sent out for my own information and use. | ||