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).
High-speed steering wobble issues related to Rapson and Dunlop tires on the Prince of Wales' car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan218 | |
| Date | 2nd January 1925 | |
| x457 H2/TB/2.1.25 S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Re:- High Speed Steering Wobbles. Arising out of the oversize Rapson tires on 17-TM., H.R.H. The Prince of Wales' car, CJ. has asked me to put certain matters before you that have arisen in this case. You may have heard that, while attempting at W. to obtain high speeds from 17-TM., it was discovered that we could not run this car with oversize ( but not Balloon) Rapson tires on the front wheels, and that, after trying 3 pairs in all, we had to deliver the car with a pair of our standard Dunlop S.S. Cord Tires, with which, and without wobble, we understand here that Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} was able to get 75 m.p.h. Attached you will find copies of 3 long letters from Rapson, and one to Rapson from us, which explain themselves and you will note that, in effect, to get the car equipped all round with Rapson tires, Rapson has had to adopt for the front wheels a smaller tire than he originally supplied, and to inflate it to a higher pressure than he makes a practice of recommending. In other words, he had practically to put on the equivalent of our Standard Dunlop tire. On the position as it stands at present CJ. writes to me as follows:- " Do you not think that a car similar to the " Prince of Wales' car should be run at Brooklands " with the Dunlop tires, to find out whether the " wobble at 75 to 80 miles an hour, which is re- " ported by Rapson, is confirmed by their tests. " Doubtless the Dunlop people would be glad to " assist in the tests." Would you let us have your views, as we are aware that the question of high speed steering wobble is very much in your minds at the present time, and likely perhaps to be more so in view of the higher speeds obtainable. In Rapson's first letter, namely that of the 18th.Dec., he refers on page 2 to reports he has had from us as to the good behaviour and results obtained from Rapson tires on our cars in France. We know nothing here of these reports, and should be very glad to have them, because our latest experience of Dunlop tires in France when PN.{Mr Northey} took them over in the Spring was lamentable. Attd: 3 copy letters of Rapson. 1 CJ/TB/311224. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||