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).
Customer's complaint regarding tyre comfort and the subsequent investigation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\5\ Scan261 | |
| Date | 26th June 1929 | |
| x4118. W/S {Derby Works / Sales} c. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. D {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} /EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} EP {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 5/H26.6.29. re. S.C. Harrison Esq., GLN-30. With reference to your Sg {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} 17/E25.6.29. We were able to arrange for Mr. Harrison to come to the Works himself with his car and demonstrate his complaint of the disadvantages of the 6" tyres as compared with the 5¼" tyres. The car is fitted with a rather smart looking light Weymann type Mulliner body and was tried by Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} (Experimental Dept.) Mr. Izayner (Repair Dept) and meself with Mr. Harrison. It was certainly agreed that from a general riding point of view the 6" tyres were not as comfortable as the 5¼" tyres unless the 6" tyres were run at lower pressure than specified in our Instruction Book. It would appear that Mr. Harrison has been used to running his previous cars on 5¼" tyres with less pressure than that specified, and the question of tyre wear and tear and tyre noise are features which have not worried him,nor has he considered them in any way a disadvantage. When Mr. Harrison left the Works with his car he did not further press for the tyres to be changed, but stated that he would run the car further, with the tyres at a lower pressure and note their behaviour. It is not likely that Mr. Harrison will now wish to change the tyres on his present car. He considers selling and buying a new 20-HP R-R in a month or two, and unless he finds that running with 6" tyres at low pressures gives him distinct advantage, he will, for his new car, specify 5¼" buttress tread tyres. On the contrary, if he likes the 6" tyres after further running, he will no doubt specify these tyres with buttress tread. He certainly did not care for the noiseless tread from the point of view of safety, and evidently does not appreciate the advantage in regard to noise. We also consider that an advantage in the riding of this car would be achieved by more damping between the scuttle and dashboard. We were able to demonstrate this to Mr. Harrison. He will arrange for a still further improved job to be made of this by his Coachbuilders. Contd:- | ||