Setting Records is Child's Play for the World’s Biggest Tyre Manufacturer

When we talk about tyres what do you think? Michelin? Continental? Goodyear? We thought the same. However, the largest records are sometimes gained by the smallest things. Such as LEGO.

LEGO?! You cry and our answer is yes!

Figures reveal that LEGO is in fact the biggest manufacturer of tyres and with a reported 381 million tyres made in 2011, it is no surprise that it has over-taken the household named tyres.

870,000 tyres are produced every day by LEGO and this has been recognised by the Guinness World Records and gratuitously accepted by Emma Owen, PR & Promotions Manager at LEGO UK saying;

“Being awarded a Guinness World Record for largest tyre manufacture per annum is likely to be a surprise to many, but not to us and we are thrilled to take this record, 50 years after the invention of the LEGO tyre.”

In 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen came up with the plastic brick design which hasn’t changed at all in over 50 years. It was, however, Christiansen’s dad who actually created the company and named the brand LEGO by taking the first two letters of the Danish words ‘Leg’ and ‘Godt’, meaning “play well.” Unknowingly to the Christiansens and quite ironically LEGO actually means, “I put together” in Latin.

Bridgestone tyres were runners up in the numbers game, selling around 190 million tyres last year. However, this is half of the volume that LEGO produced, which may be quite a surprise to some. Obviously the tyres are smaller and are a staple accessory for any LEGO lover but nonetheless they have proven their worth amongst the tyre industry.

LEGO to this day remains family owned and as a company is worth over 3 billion pounds.

While you may not want to go off-roading or drifting on a set of LEGO tyres, there is no denying that their tyre production is nothing short of prolific.

Ferrari image: legolegolego.com

Feature image: mocpages.com

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