9 Things You Didn't Know About LEGO

5. The LEGO Group Is The World's Biggest Tyre Manufacturer

Lego is more than just a toy firm. As well as its multimedia empire, the Danish company is officially the world's largest tire manufacturer by some distance.

It first began producing standalone tires for its blocky vehicles in 1962 and has been rolling them out at a mind-boggling rate ever since. By 2011, Lego's annual production hit a whopping 318 million, more than Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear.

The latest numbers peg production at 381 million tires, twice as many as its closest rival Bridgestone with 190 million units. The fact most LEGO tires measure in at 4.2 inches or smaller doesn't have any bearing on the raw data, just don't try attaching one to your car if it breaks down on the motorway.