Cooper Tire is supporting a charity expedition, which is travelling across the world to highlight the plight of children living in poverty.

Dubbed the “Rambling Rat”, Tim Dennis has travelled all the way across Europe, Asia and North America in a Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with Cooper’s rugged Discoverer STT tyres, which have successfully taken him some 44,000 miles across the harshest terrains on Earth.

As well as testing Tim’s endurance, plus that of his Land Cruiser and its tyres, the aim of the ongoing expedition is to provide education and awareness for the Street Kids International charity.

On his travels through developed countries such as Japan, Tim teaches children the importance of basic needs such as food, water and shelter, and the fact that many children elsewhere don’t have access to these simple things. In undeveloped countries, he visits the Street Kids International projects, to raise awareness of the charity’s positive work.

“This is an ongoing sustainable project, not just some quick little trip around the world,” says Tim, who sold his house and business for the expedition. “At Street Kids, we believe that every young person is an opportunity, it’s just the local resources that they’re lacking. In Europe and America the problems are usually social based, whereas in Africa they’re caused by war and famine or HIV and AIDS, but the problems are similar, and we try to bring attention to that.”

Tim has been pleased with the way his Cooper Discoverer STTs have coped with the conditions. “They’re amazing tyres. I’m from a farming and road hauling background so have a lot of experience in the area, and I know these are very, very strong tyres. They’ve travelled around 44,000 miles across terrain from frozen lakes and ice to desert, with and without studs, and they’ve held up fine.”

The “Rambling Rat” Toyota Land Cruiser is now waiting in New York, with Tim planning to drive South through the USA and Mexico, then through South America to finish in Argentina. A second Rambling Rat expedition is also planned to cover Africa.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd, a subsidiary of the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company of Findlay, Ohio, USA, has more than a century’s experience at the leading edge of tyre technology. Cooper produces a full range of tyres for passenger car and 4×4 applications under the Cooper and Avon brand names, together with Avon motorcycle tyres.

Avon motorsport tyres are supplied to over 140 championships around the world, including the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the British Formula Ford Championship, as well as series supported by Audi, Ford, Porsche and Honda. Cooper Tire also has a rich motorsport heritage, including the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series and Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship.

For more information visit www.coopertire.com or www.avontyres.com