THE DEVELOPMENT OF " RUN-FLAT " TYRES
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By P. G. HUGH
Chief Engineer, Scanunell Lorries, Ltd.
REFERRING to a news paragraph which appeared inyour issue dated March 90, headed " Firestone Solved a D-Day Beach Problem," whilst it made interesting reading, it did not disclose
all the facts. • , In 1937-38, the writer collaborated with representatiYes of the Admiralty 'in connection with the devising of a method of running 13,50 by '20 lowpressure tyres with no air, the assumption being that they might easily be deflated by machine-gun fire. In this investigation the Dunlop Rubber Co,. Ltd., showed keen interest and offered all technical assistance.
In collaboration with the writer and
the Admiralty officials concerned, the Dunlop Company Was responsible for evolving a, " bead spacer, ' which it was the privilege of Scammell Lorries, Ltd„ to test over rough country and on beach shingle. The vehicle used for the test was a Scammell four-wheel-clrive tractor. It was operated under the
worst_ possible conditions with fully deflated tyres fitted with 'bead spacers.
'So far as can be ascertained, it is believed that the equipment, .3 s mentioned, was the first of its type to prevent an ordinary pneumatic tyre of large section, when deflated through mechanical damage, from coming off its rim.
An announcement, relative to this " run-flat ' • tyre, appeared in the Press as far back as December, 1939.
Whilst there is no wish to minimize the part that the Firestone Company may have played, the inference that it was the pioneer, in this development is not in conformity with the facts.