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).
Recommendation against fitting semi balloon tyres to Lord Montagu's Phantom due to the risk of steering wobble.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\2\ Scan183 | |
| Date | 8th January 1926 | |
| To PN.{Mr Northey} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}2/LG1 8.1.26. X4565 PN{Mr Northey}4/DN14.1.26. 28770 With reference to the fitting of semi balloon tyres on to the Phantom belonging to Lord Montagu. We recommend that we do not depart from our standard recommendations in this respect i.e., standard tyres at standard pressures. If Lord Montagu runs with semi balloon tyres at 45 lbs/sq.in. pressure he will derive practically no benefit as regards comfort. We have proved in our tests however that owing to the superior non-skid properties of these tyres when new, there will be a slightly increased tendency to high speed steering wobbles. If lower tyre pressures are employed to give increased comfort, there will be a definite chance of wheel wobble occurring. Even if this car made the journey to and from the Riviera fitted with these tyres and did not experience high speed steering wobbles, the information would be of little value to us as the variation in this respect between different cars of similar types is very considerable. Should Lord Montague's car prove to be possessed of inherent wobble tendencies, we suggest that this trip to the south of France on semi balloon tyres might be most unpleasant. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||