AlloyGator V2

Price: £95.95 (fitted); £59.95 (DIY)

Contact: 08450 707078, www.alloygator.co.uk

You can’t wrap your wheels in cotton wool, but if you’re serious about your alloys and don’t want to see them damaged, a set of AlloyGator protectors is for you.

We tested the original alloy defenders in 2010, but the company has now updated the design, claiming it’s even better than before.

There are now five protectors per pack, which is useful if you plan to put one on your spare, or have an accident with one while fitting it.

If you don’t feel comfortable putting the AlloyGators on yourself, you can also now have them fitted professionally. This costs £36 more than the standard price, but if you’re not great at DIY, it’s worth considering – and £95.95 is a lot less than you’d pay a wheel refurbisher.

If you’d prefer to fit the products yourself, it’ll cost you £59.95 for a pack of five, and you should be able to get them on all four wheels in under an hour.

The super-tough nylon has been hardened so your wheels are better shielded from the scuffs and scratches caused by kerbing and poor road conditions.

AlloyGators are designed to fit any alloy wheel between 13 and 21 inches, and there’s a location guide to help you understand where to insert the gripper points when you’re putting them on.

The protectors are now available in nine colours, so you can be as loud or discreet as you want. Black, white and silver will blend in with your tyres and alloys, while those who want to add something a little different, or really stand out from the crowd, can pick from red, blue, pink, yellow, orange or green.

The UK-developed AlloyGator system has been tested by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) – and we will be trying out a set ourselves to see how they fare.