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).
Investigation into a noise complaint on car 35-EX, identifying the cause as tyre groan and comparing Goodrich, Dunlop and Avon tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\3\ scan0013 | |
| Date | 1st November 1935 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C-Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C-L. Wyman x360 LA{L. A. Archer}4/T1.11.35. re. 35-EX. Whilst in London yesterday a complaint was made by one of the Salesmen at Conduit Street who had been out in the above car, that the axle was very noisy at low speeds. I went out on the car and the noise was nothing at all to do with the axle, it was the tyre groan which as you know is noticeable at 18/20 miles an hour on this car. This car was still fitted with the Goodrich tyres which were fitted at Derby before the car went to London, and there is no doubt that the tyre groan was distinctly worse than when the tyres were first fitted. This car has now done just over 2000 miles. We took off the Goodrich tyres and fitted a set of the latest type Dunlops which arrived at Lillie Hall yesterday. There was then a distinct improvement in the amount of groan. I thought I would let you know this, as it again confirms that the tyre noise appears to increase after the tyre has done approximately 2000 miles. With reference to the Avon tyres which you fitted to 34-EX - it may interest you to know that this car went to Bournemouth on Wednesday of this week and I saw the driver on Wednesday evening on his return and he was complaining very badly about "wheel spins" when accelerating away on some type of wooden block which the streets of Bournemouth are paved with. The roads were wet at the time. [Handwritten text] Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Agree with above re tyre noise. Rear axle however is not quiet [Signature] Gaud Lyman [Stamp] LA{L. A. Archer} 6-11-35. | ||