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).
Typed extract of a letter regarding complaints about the poor performance of balloon tyres for cross country work.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\2\ Scan072 | |
| Date | 4th June 1928 guessed | |
| C O P Y. Extract....... I have heard many complaints of balloon tyres particularly the fact that they are no good for cross country work owing to their liability to puncture easily and so serious do I think this point is that I am going to request you to ask the Administration if we may make it optional out here to fit either balloon or oversize high pressure tyres. It will have to be left to us to find out when we sell a car as to what use it is going to be put and in the event of it being used a good deal for Shikar, then we must suggest using the oversize tyres. I do not know if it is possible to fit oversize tyres to the standard straight sided wheel, but I think this should be easy. I am trying to meet Sir Reginald Ford to ask him whether he has received many complaints. I think he will tell me as it is not in his interests that these tyres should be fitted if they are not giving good service and I will let you have a report as soon as I can see him, but in the meantime I would ask you to give this matter your earnest consideration as it is certainly serious. Incidentally, we ourselves had 5 punctures during our trip. ----------------- | ||