That feels like a better explanation then the other theory that they are used for some form of anti-drone tech.
Would the tires do anything to protect them other than blunt the damage? Ignoring the fact that each tire conveniently has a bomb sized hole in each section?
I would imagine shrapnel would have an easier time going through a tire then through the exterior of the plane. And those bombs already do that.
A large part of Turkey’s economy and value right now is that they are being a middle man between Putin and his problems.
That being said, if he gives that up…
Putin is not going to have a middle man between himself and the next Prygozhin.
The only value he will have will be that which Russia ascribes to it temporarily.