Countless queries have been raised on this topic and likewise numerous claims have been repudiated by the insurer and reversed by the insurance ombudsman, where the insured has had a valid case, has prompted a review.
The combined issue of tyres, wheels, wheel alignment1 and vehicle handling in general, is an almost endless subject where much has been written in many reputable books, and online forums2. This article is not written to teach you all the finer details, however some issues are clarified. This article highlights the greater subject of the interrelated and far reaching effects that tyres in particular, however the inextricably linked issues, effect the decisions that are, or should be made on insurance claims.
Let’s firstly clarify a few specifics regarding tyres so that we are all at the same page as to what specific sections of tyre we are referring to. The images alongside are a simple representation of the wheel rim and tyre from the various views. Where reference is made to the rolling circumference of the tyre, this means the total outside rolling circumference of the tyre, where this is graphically indicated alongside by the red and green arrow. The tread breadth is that of the tread breadth that would normally make contact with the road surface, this breadth is graphically indicated with the red arrow in the image alongside.
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