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).
Letter responding to criticisms about steering issues and tyre wear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\2\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 22th October 1934 | |
| x7961 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KW.22.10.34. 22nd October, 1934. A.H.R. Fedden, Esq., The Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd., Filton House, BRISTOL. Dear Fedden, Hives has handed me your letters of August 28th and October 16th. Replying to your criticisms - (1) Steering. I am not quite sure whether the trouble you experienced on Belgian Pave and the trouble your mentioned in your letter of August 28th are the same. If they both occur at low speeds, we are familiar with the problem and can tell you that it is due to cycle type wings. We had it on the car we are running experimentally with cycle type wings, and had no difficulty in eliminating it by putting a little more friction in the steering. As you know, we have spring loaded ball ends and can therefore increase the friction and ensure that it will remain constant. (2) Wear of Tyres. The recent hot summer has been the worst we have had for tyre wear for some considerable time. Actually our tests show that in hot dry weather such as that recently experienced, tyre life will be reduced to about one half what is obtained in the winter. We do not recommend the larger size of tyre because we found that we got the best road holding and steering from the 5½" x 18" Indias fitted. It is probable that you could not get a 6" tyre on your car with your present wing clearances. If you can fit them without running into trouble and feel strongly about your tyre wear, then there is no reason why you should not try them | ||