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).
Poor mileage and bursting issues with Dunlop tyres, and the effect of suspension and road conditions on performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 81\1\ scan0074 | |
| Date | 24th May 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. c. to CJ. c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} RE DUNLOP TYRES X. 3044. We are sending to you today 1 Dunlop Cover 895 x 135. We have had this tyre fitted to a wheel here so it should go on another wheel easier. We are very dissatisfied with the mileage we have obtained from Dunlop tyres - 895 x 135 running on 49-GB car. We have had one cover burst after 800 to 900 miles. We have had 2 more burst under 2000 miles. The maximum mileage we have obtained is just over 4000 miles. We had in view trying some other makes of tyres. We suggest fitting to the new 40/50 Chassis some Palmer Tyres. We think the mileage on our rear tyres should improve when we fit shock absorbers. When the back axle is dancing over a bad road, one can distinctly hear the snatch of the tyres on the road. We feel very concerned about the riding of 49-GB over very rough roads; the axle dances about so violently that the car feels out of control. Mr. Royce will remember that he complained of the same thing when taking 7-CA into Norfolk without shock absorbers. On the new cars with the thick leave springs, we shall have less friction in the springs than we had on the cars previous to the war. Again the average surface of the roads is now very much worse than before the war. EH. [Upside down text at bottom:] R.R. 235A (500) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) H.M.(T). 2/155/13. | ||