Dunlop’s involvement in motor racing goes back to the earliest days of the sport, and the company is still a vital part of the vintage and historic racing world. Its classic racing designs are the MSA-specified tyres at popular events such as the Goodwood Revival, and the full range of tyres covers many eras of the sport.

The R5 tyre design was introduced in 1958, utilising nylon fabric for its internal construction for the first time, as well as a synthetic tread compound. These new features allowed a significant reduction in tyre weight (up to 12lbs in some sizes), which was a significant step in reducing unsprung weight, and increasing performance. 

Like many of Dunlop’s historic range, the R5 uses the ‘204’ compound, which balances grip and longevity. Several of the sizes in this range are road-legal (most of the 16 and 17 inch fitments), those that aren’t are marked ‘Not for Road Use.’

This 550-15 Dunlop Race R5 crossply vintage racing tyre is NOT legal for road use. It is suitable for use on wheels with a width of 3.5 to 5.5 inches, has an overall diameter of 655mm, a section width of 180mm, and a tread width of 107mm.