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 discussing the performance, noise, and testing of various tire sizes and brands.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\5\ Scan038 | |
| Date | 19th October 1923 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X3895 Oy1-E-101923 October 19, 1923 Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Mickleover near Derby, England. Dear Hives: Re: Tires Replying to yours of October 1st. We have run one complete set of 32x6s for 12,000 miles (see copy of report attached), and one set of 34x7s about 2,000 miles. At present frankly we are just a bit dubious of the practicability of these larger sizes, as tried by us. I have run the 30x5s on my Hup over 9,000 miles and am satisfied that up to this size the large tire is desirable (though noisy). 1. Noise A difficulty we are up against with all tires but particularly those with a much broken tread, like the Goodrich, is that they are wearing noisier. The attached copy of report on tires gives the makers' explanation which agrees with our experience. We are considering changing to the American Dunlop 33x5 as a tire which appears to be and to remain quieter than the majority. This is a rather large section tire which can be run successfully and without excessive bulging, on 40 lb. air. It is fairly heavy in the side-wall, and has a tread like sketch enclosed. The Goodyear 32x6 tires were appallingly noisy at 15 m.p.h. Strangely enough the 34x7 Goodrich do not seem as bad, perhaps because the tread is rounded instead of flat to make steering easier at a standstill. 2. Large Tires. Mr. Macbeth was here yesterday afternoon and it is evident from | ||