I had a random call today from a customer asking me to fit two cheap tyres (a 19″ and a 21″) to their bike. They’d bought the tyres online at a bargain price and were now looking for an equally cheap fitting service.

It never fails to amaze me: the only thing keeping you upright and safe on a bike is just a few square inches of rubber in contact with the road. If you’re thinking about cutting corners, tyres (and, in my opinion, your crash helmet) are not the places to save a few quid.

As it turned out, I wasn’t prepared to fit them — and neither was any other bike shop or tyre-fitting service in the area. My advice to them was simple: buy a reputable tyre brand from a trusted supplier, and have the supplying dealer or shop fit them.

It might cost a little more upfront, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing the job is done properly is, in my view, well worth it. After all, better safe than sorry.