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 that hasn't been a problem.

Townsend's Defender 90 shod with Avon Rangemaster tyres has completed 187 200km with the same set of rubber - the equivalent of five trips around the globe.

He said he was "amazed, flabbergasted and grateful" by the performance: the tyres have coped with snow, deep mud, shingle, rocky terrain, riverbeds and motorways during his work as a builder.

"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 five years, although the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm can come sooner with high-mileage vehicles.