Road Hazard Coverage: Is It Worth It?

To determine whether additional policies are worth it, you need to know what road hazards coverage and warranties are.

What Are Road Hazards Coverage and Warranties?

Road hazards coverage, also known as a road hazard warranty or protection plan, is a warranty on tires that covers the cost of tire puncture repairs or tire replacements due to non-negligent driving.

What It Covers

• Damage to tires that happened as a result of everyday driving up until 3/32-inch tread depth
• Road hazard damage such as punctures from debris like nails, broken glass, and potholes

What It Doesn’t Cover

• Tread depth of 2/32 of an inch or less
• Negligent driving, which can include torque snags, overloading, curb mounting, brake lock-up, and wheel spinning
• Maintenance issues, such as underinflation
• User error
• Off-road use
• Collisions
• Fire
• Vandalism
• Theft, including catalytic converter theft
• Sidewall abrasions
• Manufacturer’s defects
• Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the performance or safety of the tire¹

So, what exactly is a road hazard? Any debris on the road is considered a hazard, such as these:

• Nail
• Glass
• Potholes⁴

Note that you are protected under collision coverage if you run into a pothole. Learn more about pothole coverage.

The following don’t count as road hazards and aren’t covered under road hazard warranties:

• Fire
• Vehicle collisions
• Pedestrian collisions
• Animal collisions

It’s impossible to talk about road hazard coverage without discussing tread depth.

What Is Tread Depth?

Tread depth is the vertical measurement from the top of a tire’s rubber to the bottom of its deepest grooves. As you drive, the tread wear decreases, which makes it harder for tires to grip the road. Every tire, from light truck tires to snow tires, has a tread life. Tires with tread depths that are too low could pose safety issues, especially in rain or snow, as they make road hazard damage more likely.

In the U.S., tire depth is measured in increments of 1/32 of an inch. New tires start off with tread depths of 10/32 to 12/32 of an inch, but if the depth gets too low (3/32 of an inch or less), consider replacing your tires to avoid damages, punctures, flats, or failures.

Tread Depth Standards by State

In 44 of the 50 states, tires must have a minimum tread depth to pass inspection. Find your state’s minimum tread depth below.

In sum? Unless you have low-profile tires, buying an additional road hazard warranty isn’t worth it. Instead, we recommend getting full coverage car insurance, which includes collision coverage.

While collision coverage isn’t a required minimum coverage in any state, it’s necessary if you want your car’s damages covered. Keep reading for our auto insurance FAQs.