The tyres that lasted 5 times round the world

For most motorists, replacing tyres is an occurrence that comes around once every couple of years, depending on their annual mileage. But for Land Rover driver, Tim Townsend, and his set of Avon Rangemaster tyres, that hasn't been a problem. Mr Townsend's Defender 90 has completed a whopping 117,000 miles with the same set of rubber - the equivalent of five trips around the globe.

Mr Townsend said he was "amazed, flabbergasted and grateful" by the performance. Living on the edge of the Peak District, the tyres have coped with snow, deep mud, shingle, rocky terrain, riverbeds and motorways during his work as a builder in Glossop, Derbyshire.

"I've only ever fitted Avon Tyres to my motorbikes, and that's why I chose the Rangemaster," explained Mr Townsend. "Their resistance to punctures is impressive, to say the least. I've had nine punctures over the last 12 months, but none of them have been one of the Rangemasters - they've all been on other vehicles despite the fact that the Land Rover is the only one I own that goes on anything other than a normal road."

Tyre manufacturers typically recommend that tyres are replaced at least every 5 years, although the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm can come sooner with high-mileage vehicles.

"On the road they are so reliable," Mr Townsend continues. "Unlike with some off road tyres you don't get any weave or anything, and they're just as happy doing 70mph on the motorway as driving around the farm."