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).
Letter from Rapson Tyres responding to a report on rapid tyre wear during trials on a Rolls-Royce car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\1\ Scan115 | |
| Date | 17th June 1924 | |
| 41238 CUSTOMERS' CARS ONLY DRIVEN BY OUR STAFF AT CLIENTS' OWN RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY. TYRE & JACK MANUFACTURERS BY APPOINTMENT TO H.M THE KING. DIRECTORS: COL. R.{Sir Henry Royce} HALSEY, CHAIRMAN. F.{Mr Friese} LIONEL RAPSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR. VICE-ADMIRAL SIR EDMOND J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. CAPT. F.{Mr Friese} McKAY HAY, D.G.M. JOHN LOMAX (SECRETARY). Rapson TYRE & JACK COY. LTD. Tyre Factory: NEW MALDEN SURREY Sales Dept 477, OXFORD STREET, LONDON. TYRE & JACK MANUFACTURERS BY APPOINTMENT TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. Telegraphic Address: RAPSONO, NEW MALDEN, SURREY. Code: BENTLEY'S. Telephone MALDEN 190, 191, 192. Your Ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG. Our Ref. FLR/DLM. Please Quote. 17th June 1924. E.W. Hines, Esq., Messrs Rolls-Royce, Ltd., D E R B Y. Dear Mr. Hines, I have received your report on the result of your trials of our 33 x 5 Rapson tyres and to be quite frank, am amazed to read that the treads have worn away so quickly. Compared with the trials on your 20 H.P. model and the average speed of 30 M.P.H. on that car as against 36 M.P.H. on the 40-50 model, I cannot account for such a tremendous difference in wear, unless the better part of the trial has been subjected to tests of the four wheel brakes which you mention in your letter. Obviously, if the car has been driven at very high speeds say of 60-80 miles per hour and your four wheel brakes continually brought into operation to prove the merits of these, so that the average speed was brought down to 36 M.P.H. the tyres would be worn away very quickly. I can certainly say that hitherto, I have never heard of a Rapson tyre wearing to the breaker strip on any Rolls-Royce car under 10,000 miles. With regard to the other details mentioned in your report. Firstly, the reason why the rubber forming the second tread came away in one piece and made such a noise, is solely due to negligence on All communications to be addressed to the Company, not to individuals. Handwritten notes: Dunlop (crossed out) 4- 31" x 4 S.S. v tube long valve. | ||