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).
Issues with soft edge beaded tyres and wire wheels, recommending alternatives like wood wheels for the US market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\5\ Scan003 | |
| Date | 24th May 1923 | |
| -2- with our 895 X 135 wheels for soft edge beaded tyres, since in many parts of the country it is impossible to buy these tyres, and they are always disproportionately expensive, being an un-std type. It would be far better to send wire wheel hubs only (inner and outer) and let us have the rest of the wheel built up by some concern like to Houk Wire Wheel Co. (a branch of the American Wire Wheel Corporation), using a detachable rim for straight sided tyres. Houk has built up wheels for us in this way during the war, and the results have been satisfactory. 7. The Brewster Co. have rebuilt wood wheels for us very satisfactorily andhave also made us several sets of new wood wheels all of which have been excellent. Their wheels are now being built by the Jones Co., of Newark, NJ. who are said to do first-class work. 8. We would recommend, from past experience, Firestone demountable rims of the type illustrated in the enclosed cutting, suitable for taking 33 x 5 straight sided tyres, which are actually equivalent to the European 895 x 135. 9. Finally, inview of the fact that the first cars coming over will have wire wheels, which some will have to be converted to wood wheels (an alteration which we should rather do under our own supervision than allow to be done by any small garage the customer might select), will you please send us twenty sets of hubs and other necessary parts for building wood wheels over here. Any wire wheels which accumulate on our hands will later be returned to England. 10. I may mention that the objections to wire wheels are mainly:- (a) That they are hard to keep clean. (b) Not easy to reach the valve. (c) Not so easy to change in case of a puncture, because of lifting round a heavy wheel, instead of the mere rim and tyre. + (d) They are liable to have the spokes cut or bent by the curb when pulling up, specially in places where the roadway is dropped for a gutter opening. (e) They fill up with dirt and snow. (f) They are thought to be heavier than wood wheels, when the detachable hub is taken into consideration. (I do not know where this is so). Certainly they add to the total weight of the car, as compared with wood wheels. There is a prejudice against the appearance of wire wheels, which have not yet so far gained much favour in the U.S. contd: R.R. (U.S.) Ltd. FILE No. C/S. 701B. DATE 24-05-23 (COPIED) 2364 | ||