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).
Secret memo discussing the design and testing challenges of fitting balloon tyres to the EAC.11 model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\2\ Scan137 | |
| Date | 17th October 1924 | |
| 44565 To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} S E C R E T. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/LG17.10.24. 44565 48820 48430 E.A.C.11. - BALLOON TYRES. The EAC.11 will be designed suitable for fitting balloon tyres. The steering on the EAC.11. is lower geared than the present std. 40/50 HP. which makes it more suitable for balloon tyres. We do not promise that this is going to overcome all the heaviness of the steering with balloon tyres at low speeds. It is a question of compromise. We think that if other makers have overcome the heaviness of the steering with balloon tyres at low speeds, it is only because they have sacrificed other desirable features. In our opinion, the most important test to do with balloon tyres at the present time is to run them at very high speeds in France. We have no experience, neither have we heard of other people having experience with balloon tyres on a powerful car driven at high speeds. For this reason we are arranging that the next car which goes to France shall have wheels suitable for balloon tyres. It will not be possible to test the balloon tyres at the same time as the springs because it would affect the results, but as soon as the tests on the springs are completed, we want the car to run a few thousand miles fitted with balloon tyres. We are in close touch with the tyres makers the whole time in connection with this problem. We are expecting shortly another set of MG contd :- | ||