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).
The disadvantages of fitting wider tyres, detailing the negative effects on steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65\2\ scan0301 | |
| Date | 12th November 1929 guessed | |
| -2- under running conditions. Owing to the increase in wisth of the tread, the steering is very much heavier when shunting and is heavy and uncertain up to 35 m.p.h., especially noticeable in traffic. At high speeds any unselective feeling is de definately increased, the steering tends to wander excessively. Road shocks and joggles are not appreciably affected. It is not possible to appreciate any alteration in the riding qualities The adoption of this size of tyre necessit- ates an alteration to the rear spare wheel carrier, it cannot be carried on the present type. The reduction in steering lock angle is caused by the increase in width of the tyre and is a big disadvantage. The disadvantages are many, there is only one advantage, viz:- longer life of tyre due to increased thickness of tread, we are not in a position to give any figures for this; we have not yet run a set of these tyres sufficiently far to wear them out. We feel that the disadvantages of this tyre are so many that they outweigh its one advantage; it would be better to put up with the short life of the present 33 x 6.75" tyre than to involve ourselves in alterations to spare wheel carriers etc., and what is more serious, to spoil the steering. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL. | ||