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).
Premature wear and life expectancy of tyres on various car models.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\5\ scan0072 | |
Date | 28th July 1938 | |
Secret. Miss Reece 664 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Please see record Bring up in a week on tyres in my car. I Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} have had two new sets HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} S/W. To EY. from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} copy to C. 9K Re: Life of Tyres. I noticed on my car the other day that the treads of the tyres were worn rather badly, and as I was going away and might do 1,000 or 2,000 miles, I told Kennett to take the car round to Dunlops to obtain their advice as to whether to let the tyres run on for the above distance or whether they recommended changing them. They agreed that they should be changed. They were not, of course, completely worn out, but the point I am concerned about is that the car had only covered 7,000 miles, whereas Kennett tells me that the average life of tyres on my former 25/30 was 10,000 on the back and 15,000 on the front. On Wraith the front tyre treads were worn more than the back, due doubtless to independent suspension. Dunlops have got the tyres, so that if you want to hear anything more about the subject, please get in touch with them. I think it is worthy of investigation, because I am told that on Trials Cars on Phantom III's the tyres last practically as well as on 25/30's. One wonders whether the Dunlop tyres are as good as they should be, as I am told that Sopwith complained of his Dunlop tyres being worn out at 5,000 miles, subsequently fitted Goodyears, and the same degree of wear was reached at 15,000 miles. So far as my Wraith is concerned, it has been used under the same conditions as my 25, except that, as you know, one naturally drives this car rather faster. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||