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 benefits of Low Pressure Tyres, focusing on ease of handling and safety features.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\2\ Scan042 | |
| Date | 21th August 1923 guessed | |
| 5. 17. MAKE TYRE EASIER TO HANDLE. All motorists object to having to fit or take off tyres. A new B/E tyre is always hard to fit and the used S/S tyre is often difficult to handle due to rust causing the tyre to stick on rim and due to damage in handling flap when used. Also all known tyres require tools for fitting purposes, in fact normal tyres cannot be said to be easy to handle. In evolving the Low Pressure Tyre I took advantage of the increased lateral spacing of the beads to use a "Sunk base" rim as used on wired on Cycle Tyres for so many years and thus made feasible the adoption of a wired On Motor Tyre with a one piece rim. This at once solves the problem of keeping out water which problem is always a difficult one with Straight Side Rims. The "Sunk base" rim adopted with the Low Pressure Tyre makes it easy to fit and take off cover and tube at the same time by the fingers alone and at no time are tools required. 18. MAKE TYRE STAND ABUSE BETTER. Criticisms have been raised against the Large section tyre, it being stated that they would be dangerous when run deflated - when burst suddenly and that they would not survive when run any appreciable distance in deflated condition. In practice repeated tests shew beyond question that - a) Such tyres can be run many miles fully loaded in deflated condition without seriously injuring cover or tube. b) when deflated the tyres cling to the rim even when severely braked and when run round corners. c) when suddenly burst intentionally there is no danger due to the "drop" and the cover stays on the rim and does not become jammed in any way. These Safety features are not peculiar to the Low Pressure Tyre but have been obtained by a particular feature of the tyre and rim design, which while enabling easy mounting and demounting to be carried out, yet ensure that in the case of deflation or bursts the load on the wheel prevents the accidental displacement of the tyre. | ||