What type of forensic analysis involves comparing the marks left by tires?

The correct answer focuses specifically on tire tread analysis, which is a specialized form of forensic analysis that examines the unique patterns and markings left by vehicle tires at crime scenes. Tire tread analysis can provide crucial information, such as identifying the make and model of a vehicle, linking a suspect to a crime scene through tire traces, and providing insights into the movement patterns of vehicles.

This type of analysis is critical in forensic investigations because different tires have distinct tread patterns that can help narrow down the possibilities when trying to match tread marks found at a crime scene to a specific vehicle. It is also important in reconstructing events, such as the path a vehicle took or where it may have come from or gone after an incident.

While other types of forensic analysis, such as impression analysis or forensic ballistics, are important in their own right, they focus on different aspects of evidence. Impression analysis encompasses a broader range of trace evidence including footprints and tool marks, whereas forensic ballistics specifically deals with firearms and ammunition. Document examination pertains to the analysis of written or printed materials, which is entirely unrelated to tire marks. Thus, tire tread analysis is clearly the most relevant and specific type of analysis concerning the comparison of marks left by tires.