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 on the Phantom III, comparing it with a Cadillac and considering dropping wire wheels as a solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 157\1\ scan0225 | |
| Date | 17th October 1935 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X1332 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} FROM Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Tyre Noises on Phantom III. Copy to Wox. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}Mr.Lr.{Mr Ellor}Ls. DH.{D. Henderson - Showroom} Many thanks for E.4/HP.16.10.35 and for the information given. I heard a good deal about this when Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and I met Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} yesterday. I was very much interested to hear that the Cadillac was quite free from tyre noise and that, when its wheels and tyres were fitted to the P.III, a very marked improvement was effected. This, I think, is most encouraging and gives us a definite clue to work on. It rather looks as if one of the reasons why the majority of the American manufacturers have dropped wire wheels is because their research investigations showed them that they were a source of noise. It would seem as if we shall have to drop wire wheels on the P.III and, if this is so, it would not really worry us. I note that the Dunlop representative has been to Derby and that you hope to have some wheels of the Cadillac type available shortly. I am very glad that there is no difference of opinion as to the existence of this noise and there is certainly some as yet unexplained reason for tyres such as the standard Dunlop, which are quite satisfactory on a P.II, being unbearably noisy on a P.III. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||