Tyre and rim cover: potholes, kerbs and the bill that follows

Tyre and rim cover is a monthly plan that pays to repair or replace a tyre or rim damaged by a pothole, a kerb or road debris, damage that comprehensive insurance often excludes or that costs less than its excess. Plans set a limit per tyre or rim and a number of claims a year. Providers price on wheel size and type and the roads you drive. Updated September 2026.

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Who it suits

It suits anyone driving on roads where potholes are common, and it suits cars with low-profile tyres, run-flats or large alloy rims, where one pothole can cost thousands of rand and a matching rim is hard to source. It suits a driver whose comprehensive excess is higher than the price of a tyre, which is most drivers. It does not cover normal wear, punctures from age, or a tyre that was already below the legal tread depth, and most plans require the damaged tyre to be inspected before it is replaced.

What the insurer will ask, and why

These are the questions on our form for tyre & rim, with what the insurer does with each answer. Nothing here is optional guesswork: every question exists because a licensed insurer needs it to quote.

Year of manufacture: Vehicle age and value.
Make: Rating by make and model (tyre and rim fitment cost).
Model
Wheel type: Wheel and tyre type drives replacement cost.
Rim size: Larger rims cost significantly more to replace.
Where do you mostly drive?: Road conditions are the main driver of tyre and rim risk.
Tyre or rim claims in the last 2 years: Claims history.
Do you already have tyre and rim cover? (optional): Existing cover lowers intent; used to route or deprioritise leads.
Postal code: Area rating reflects local road quality and pothole prevalence.
Your date of birth: Age is the primary rating factor across every product.
Which province do you live in?: Regional risk and pricing tables.
Town or suburb (optional): Postal-code rating for short-term products; language and dialect hints for call centres.
What best describes your work situation?: Affordability and, for income products, insurability.
Do you have a bank account you can pay from by debit order?: Collection method.

Questions people ask

Are potholes covered?

Yes, that is the main reason people buy it: sudden damage from a pothole, a kerb or debris on the road. Wear and tear is not.

Can I claim from the municipality instead?

You can try, and some people succeed, but the process is slow and uncertain. A plan pays within days; a claim against a road authority can take months.

Does rim size change the price?

Yes. Larger rims and low-profile tyres cost more to replace and are damaged more easily, so plans band them. Our form asks the size and type.

Olvian is a marketing and lead-referral service. We are not a licensed financial services provider, we do not give advice, and we do not sell insurance.