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).
Testing Rapson tyres, concluding they are not recommended due to rapid wear of the non-slipping tread.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\1\ Scan149 | |
| Date | 15th August 1924 | |
| V1238 PNZ/KW15.8.24. S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to BP. " " H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} " " SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} When running one of our 40/50 H.P. Open Touring Cars in France recently I tested a set of Rapson tyres, primarily with a view to deciding whether the degree of comfort was altered, it having been established apparently that these tyres were considerably quieter on a smooth road. To my surprise I found that after running 600 miles the tread of the tyres became so worn flat that practically all non-slipping qualities had disappeared. As the non-slipping proportion of the life of a tyre is a very important part of its life, and in the case of our standard Dunlop tyres one would expect it to be in the neighbourhood of 4-5000 miles, it would appear that we should not be right in recommending the Rapson tyre. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||