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).
Tyre failures due to unexpected vehicle weight on the Nairobi Run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\4\ scan0097 | |
| Date | 20th April 1937 | |
| W/S. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Absent. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}9/R.20.4.37. Tyre Failures on Nairobi Run. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}2/KW16.4.37. The original weight figure supplied to Dunlops for the rear axle loading of 34-EX was based on the known normal axle loading, plus Mr. Symons' estimate of three passengers and luggage, and plus a further cwt. for luck. This came out at, approximately, the 4,150 lbs you mention. It appears, therefore, that the extra apparatus, such as cinemas, and un-ditching gear, must have weighed a very considerable amount, for which Mr. Symons made no allowance while he was in the Works. We ourselves never had any opportunity of weighing the complete car, and are surprised that the rear axle weight should have come out at over 5,000 lbs. I am afraid this is all the information we are able to give you on the subject. We do not know the lowest pressure that Dunlops told Mr. Symons could be used on the rear tyres, nor, of course, whether this pressure was adhered to. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||