diff --git a/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/experiments/boundary_cut_tire.py b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/experiments/boundary_cut_tire.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..552d998
--- /dev/null
+++ b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/experiments/boundary_cut_tire.py
@@ -0,0 +1,357 @@
+"""Boundary cut tire T_∂: identification + chain DP integration.
+
+T_∂^(i) on side i:
+  - Cycle = boundary walk of the unique low-side face of H_1
+    (the face containing pendants).
+  - OUT pendants = depth-0 edges (pendants) inside f_∂.
+  - IN pendants = depth-2 edges in adjacent high-side H_1 faces
+    (= the "third edge" at boundary vertices when it's depth 2).
+
+Empirical test: extended chain DP including T_∂ should yield
+non-empty R_i matching the ground-truth projection of G'_i's
+3-edge colorings.
+"""
+import os
+import sys
+import itertools
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+from sage.all import Graph, graphs
+
+HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+sys.path.insert(0, HERE)
+from cut_depth_label import (
+    parse_planar_code, HM_FILE,
+    apply_procedure, compute_nice_layout,
+)
+from cut_tire_tree import build_tree, compute_H_d_faces
+from tree_structure_sweep import all_six_edge_cuts
+
+
+def classify_h1_faces(H, edge_depth):
+    """Compute the faces of H_1, classify each as low-side or
+    high-side based on its interior content (depth-0 vs depth->=2).
+    Returns (low_face, high_faces) where low_face is the (unique)
+    low-side face's boundary walk."""
+    faces, H1 = compute_H_d_faces(H, edge_depth, 1)
+    if not faces:
+        return None, []
+    # For each face, examine the interior: pick an interior point and
+    # ask which depth edges of G'_i lie inside.  Topologically: take
+    # face's interior as a connected region, find which non-H_1 edges
+    # lie strictly inside.
+    # Simpler combinatorial approach: a face f of H_1 is high-side iff
+    # every non-H_1 edge incident to a boundary vertex of f, on the
+    # f-side, has depth >= 2.  Low-side iff at least one such has
+    # depth 0.
+    # Since we can't easily check "f-side", use the simpler test:
+    # face is low-side iff ANY pendant (depth-0 edge) is incident to
+    # a vertex of f.
+    pendant_verts = set()
+    for e, d in edge_depth.items():
+        if d == 0:
+            for v in e:
+                pendant_verts.add(v)
+    classified = []
+    for face in faces:
+        face_verts = set()
+        for u, v in face:
+            face_verts.add(u); face_verts.add(v)
+        is_low = bool(face_verts & pendant_verts)
+        classified.append((face, is_low))
+    low_faces = [f for f, low in classified if low]
+    high_faces = [f for f, low in classified if not low]
+    if len(low_faces) > 1:
+        # Choose the one with the most pendant incidences
+        low_faces.sort(key=lambda f: -sum(
+            1 for u, v in f
+            if u in pendant_verts or v in pendant_verts))
+    low_face = low_faces[0] if low_faces else None
+    return low_face, high_faces
+
+
+def boundary_tire_structure(H, edge_depth, low_face):
+    """Construct T_∂'s structural data:
+       - cycle_edges: depth-1 edges in low_face's boundary walk
+                      (with multiplicity = how many times traversed
+                      in the walk, but we use each edge once for
+                      cycle_eids; the walk structure is implicit).
+       - out_pendants: pendant edges (depth 0) at boundary vertices.
+       - in_pendants: depth-2 edges incident to boundary vertices,
+                      on the deeper side.
+       - edges_at_v: per-vertex incident edge IDs (for proper-coloring
+                      constraint).
+       - all_edges: list of full edge tuples in T_∂'s order.
+    """
+    if low_face is None:
+        return None
+    # Cycle edges: unique edges in low_face's boundary walk
+    cycle_e_set = set()
+    cycle_edges = []
+    for u, v in low_face:
+        e = tuple(sorted((u, v)))
+        if e not in cycle_e_set:
+            cycle_e_set.add(e)
+            cycle_edges.append(e)
+    boundary_verts = set()
+    for a, b in cycle_edges:
+        boundary_verts.add(a); boundary_verts.add(b)
+    # Pendants at boundary vertices
+    out_pendants = []  # depth-0 edges incident
+    in_pendants = []   # depth-2 edges incident
+    for v in boundary_verts:
+        for nb in H.neighbors(v):
+            e = tuple(sorted((v, nb)))
+            if e in cycle_e_set:
+                continue
+            de = edge_depth.get(e)
+            if de == 0:
+                out_pendants.append(e)
+            elif de == 2:
+                in_pendants.append(e)
+    # Dedup
+    out_pendants = list(set(out_pendants))
+    in_pendants = list(set(in_pendants))
+    # Construct edge ID list
+    all_edges = cycle_edges + in_pendants + out_pendants
+    edge_id = {e: i for i, e in enumerate(all_edges)}
+    edges_at_v = defaultdict(list)
+    for a, b in cycle_edges:
+        edges_at_v[a].append(edge_id[(a, b)])
+        edges_at_v[b].append(edge_id[(a, b)])
+    for e in in_pendants + out_pendants:
+        for v in e:
+            if v in boundary_verts:
+                edges_at_v[v].append(edge_id[e])
+    return {
+        'all_edges': all_edges,
+        'edge_id': edge_id,
+        'edges_at_v': dict(edges_at_v),
+        'cycle_eids': [edge_id[e] for e in cycle_edges],
+        'in_eids': [edge_id[e] for e in in_pendants],
+        'out_eids': [edge_id[e] for e in out_pendants],
+        'low_face': low_face,
+    }
+
+
+def enumerate_proper(struct, max_edges=18):
+    """Enumerate proper 3-edge-colorings of struct's edges,
+    respecting per-vertex distinct-color constraint."""
+    n_e = len(struct['all_edges'])
+    if n_e > max_edges:
+        return None
+    out = []
+    for assign in itertools.product([0, 1, 2], repeat=n_e):
+        ok = True
+        for v, eids in struct['edges_at_v'].items():
+            cs = [assign[i] for i in eids]
+            if len(set(cs)) != len(cs):
+                ok = False; break
+        if ok:
+            out.append(assign)
+    return out
+
+
+def proper_3_edge_colorings_full(G, max_n=60):
+    """Brute-force backtracking enum of all proper 3-edge-colorings."""
+    edges = [tuple(sorted(e[:2])) for e in G.edges()]
+    n = len(edges)
+    if n > max_n:
+        return None
+    eav = defaultdict(list)
+    for i, (u, v) in enumerate(edges):
+        eav[u].append(i)
+        eav[v].append(i)
+    colors = [-1] * n
+    results = []
+    def bt(i):
+        if i == n:
+            results.append(tuple(colors))
+            return
+        u, v = edges[i]
+        used = set()
+        for j in eav[u]:
+            if colors[j] != -1: used.add(colors[j])
+        for j in eav[v]:
+            if colors[j] != -1: used.add(colors[j])
+        for c in range(3):
+            if c in used: continue
+            colors[i] = c
+            bt(i + 1)
+            colors[i] = -1
+    bt(0)
+    return [{edges[i]: c for i, c in enumerate(r)} for r in results]
+
+
+def project_to_pendants(colorings, pendant_edges):
+    """Project G'_i colorings to a fixed list of pendant edges.
+    Returns a set of color tuples (in the order of pendant_edges)."""
+    out = set()
+    for c in colorings:
+        try:
+            out.add(tuple(c[tuple(sorted(e[:2]))] for e in pendant_edges))
+        except KeyError:
+            continue
+    return out
+
+
+def s3_orbit(t):
+    return {tuple(p[c] for c in t)
+            for p in itertools.permutations([0, 1, 2])}
+
+
+def has_full_s3(s):
+    if not s: return False
+    for t in s:
+        orb = s3_orbit(t)
+        if len(orb) == 6 and orb <= s:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
+def chain_dp_with_boundary(H, edge_depth):
+    """Compute the chain DP including the boundary cut tire T_∂.
+
+    Algorithm:
+      1. Build high-side forest as before; compute per-tire A(T).
+      2. Build T_∂ structure from low-side H_1 face.
+      3. Compute A(T_∂) = proper 3-edge-colorings of T_∂.
+      4. Restrict A(T_∂) by edge-sharing with adjacent high-side
+         tires (depth-1 boundary edges, depth-2 in-pendants).
+      5. Project to OUT pendants = R_i^DP.
+    """
+    if not edge_depth:
+        return set(), {}
+    faces_by_depth, parent_of, _ = build_tree(H, edge_depth)
+    # Build per-tire structures (joint coloring DP)
+    from chain_dp_joint import tire_edges, enumerate_proper as ep, chain_dp_joint
+    A_high, tire_struct, _ = chain_dp_joint(
+        faces_by_depth, parent_of, H, edge_depth)
+
+    # Boundary tire
+    low_face, high_faces = classify_h1_faces(H, edge_depth)
+    bdy_struct = boundary_tire_structure(H, edge_depth, low_face)
+    if bdy_struct is None:
+        return set(), {'reason': 'no low_face'}
+
+    bdy_cs = enumerate_proper(bdy_struct, max_edges=18)
+    if bdy_cs is None:
+        return set(), {'reason': 'bdy too big',
+                       'n_edges': len(bdy_struct['all_edges'])}
+
+    # Restrict A(T_∂) by sharing with high-side tires.
+    # For each adjacent high-side tire that shares any T_∂ edges,
+    # require T_∂ coloring to be compatible with some A(tire) coloring
+    # on shared edges.
+    bdy_eid = bdy_struct['edge_id']
+    bdy_edges_set = set(bdy_struct['all_edges'])
+    kid_shared = []
+    for node, struct in tire_struct.items():
+        if A_high.get(node) is None or not A_high.get(node):
+            continue
+        node_edges = set(struct['all_edges'])
+        shared = bdy_edges_set & node_edges
+        if not shared:
+            continue
+        shared_pairs = []  # (bdy_eid, node_eid)
+        for e in shared:
+            shared_pairs.append((bdy_eid[e], struct['edge_id'][e]))
+        # Compute set of shared-coloring keys this node accepts
+        accepted = set()
+        for assign in A_high[node]:
+            key = tuple(assign[neid] for (_, neid) in shared_pairs)
+            accepted.add(key)
+        kid_shared.append((shared_pairs, accepted, node))
+    # Filter bdy_cs
+    survivors = []
+    for assign in bdy_cs:
+        ok = True
+        for shared_pairs, accepted, _ in kid_shared:
+            key = tuple(assign[beid] for (beid, _) in shared_pairs)
+            if key not in accepted:
+                ok = False; break
+        if ok:
+            survivors.append(assign)
+    # Project to OUT pendants
+    out_eids = bdy_struct['out_eids']
+    R = set()
+    for assign in survivors:
+        R.add(tuple(assign[i] for i in out_eids))
+    return R, {
+        'bdy_n_edges': len(bdy_struct['all_edges']),
+        'bdy_cycle_eids': len(bdy_struct['cycle_eids']),
+        'bdy_out': len(bdy_struct['out_eids']),
+        'bdy_in': len(bdy_struct['in_eids']),
+        'bdy_valid_pre': len(bdy_cs),
+        'bdy_valid_post': len(survivors),
+        'high_neighbors': len(kid_shared),
+    }
+
+
+def test_one_cut(G, cut_idx, cuts, base_pos, verbose=False):
+    S, cut_edges = cuts[cut_idx]
+    S0, S1 = S, frozenset(G.vertices()) - S
+    if len(S0) < 3 or len(S1) < 3:
+        return None
+    if verbose:
+        print(f'  cut #{cut_idx}: |S0|={len(S0)}, |S1|={len(S1)}',
+              flush=True)
+    results = {'cut_idx': cut_idx}
+    for side, S_side in [('0', S0), ('1', S1)]:
+        try:
+            H, _, ed, _, _, _ = apply_procedure(
+                G, S_side, cut_edges, base_pos, side,
+                pendant_start_id=max(G.vertices()) + 1 +
+                (0 if side == '0' else 500))
+        except Exception as e:
+            results[f'side_{side}'] = {'error': str(e)}
+            continue
+        if not ed:
+            continue
+        # Ground truth on G'_i
+        gi_cols = proper_3_edge_colorings_full(H, max_n=50)
+        if gi_cols is None:
+            R_ground = None
+        else:
+            # Project to pendants (depth-0)
+            pendant_edges = [e for e, d in ed.items() if d == 0]
+            R_ground = project_to_pendants(gi_cols, pendant_edges)
+
+        R_dp, meta = chain_dp_with_boundary(H, ed)
+        results[f'side_{side}'] = {
+            'R_ground_size': len(R_ground) if R_ground is not None else None,
+            'R_ground_full_s3': has_full_s3(R_ground)
+                if R_ground is not None else None,
+            'R_dp_size': len(R_dp),
+            'R_dp_full_s3': has_full_s3(R_dp),
+            'match': R_ground == R_dp if R_ground is not None else None,
+            'meta': meta,
+        }
+        if verbose:
+            r = results[f'side_{side}']
+            print(f'    side {side}: |R_ground|={r["R_ground_size"]}, '
+                  f'|R_dp|={r["R_dp_size"]}, match={r["match"]}, '
+                  f'meta={r["meta"]}',
+                  flush=True)
+    return results
+
+
+def main():
+    print('=== Dodecahedron ===', flush=True)
+    G = graphs.DodecahedralGraph()
+    G.is_planar(set_embedding=True)
+    base_pos = compute_nice_layout(G)
+    cuts = all_six_edge_cuts(G, max_cuts=5)
+    for i in range(min(5, len(cuts))):
+        test_one_cut(G, i, cuts, base_pos, verbose=True)
+
+    print('\n=== HM_0 ===', flush=True)
+    gs = parse_planar_code(HM_FILE)
+    cuts = all_six_edge_cuts(gs[0], max_cuts=3)
+    base_pos = compute_nice_layout(gs[0])
+    for i in range(min(3, len(cuts))):
+        test_one_cut(gs[0], i, cuts, base_pos, verbose=True)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.aux b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.aux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a38252
--- /dev/null
+++ b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.aux
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+\relax 
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{The coverage gap.}{1}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{Resolution.}{1}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{Setup.}{1}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{The low-side face of $H_1$.}{1}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{What $T_\partial $ looks like in special cases.}{2}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{Role in the chain DP.}{2}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{What this closes.}{3}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{What it leaves open.}{3}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{Why the chain DP can still work.}{3}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\@writefile{toc}{\contentsline {paragraph}{Logical status of the extended framework.}{3}{}\protected@file@percent }
+\gdef \@abspage@last{3}
diff --git a/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.log b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.log
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39f0f52
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@@ -0,0 +1,299 @@
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diff --git a/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.pdf b/papers/coloring_nested_tire_graphs/notes/boundary_cut_tire.pdf
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+\documentclass[11pt]{article}
+\usepackage{amsmath,amssymb,amsthm}
+\usepackage{graphicx}
+\usepackage{geometry}
+\usepackage{booktabs}
+\geometry{margin=1in}
+
+\title{The boundary cut tire $T_\partial$: closing the coverage gap}
+\author{}
+\date{}
+
+\newtheorem*{defn}{Definition}
+\newtheorem*{prop}{Proposition}
+\newtheorem*{lem}{Lemma}
+\newtheorem*{rem}{Remark}
+
+\begin{document}
+\maketitle
+
+\section*{Motivation}
+
+The high-side cut tire forest (\texttt{cut\_tire\_tree\_structure.tex})
+omits the low-side face of $H_1$ --- the unique face containing the
+pendants of $G'_i$.  This omission is essential to prove the
+forest's tree structure (low-side faces span multiple parent faces
+of $H_{d-1}$, violating the uniqueness step in the proof).
+
+\paragraph{The coverage gap.}  Empirically
+(\texttt{chain\_dp\_joint.py} on the dodecahedron, cut $\#0$, side
+$0$): when $|S_i|$ is small, $H_1$ on side $i$ can be a
+\emph{tree} (no cycles).  Its unique face is forced to be low-side
+(contains pendants), so the high-side forest is \emph{empty}.  The
+chain DP, projecting through roots that don't exist, gives
+$\mathcal{R}_i = \emptyset$ --- but $G$ may still be
+$3$-edge-colourable, with non-empty $\mathcal{R}_i$.
+
+\paragraph{Resolution.}  Introduce the \emph{boundary cut tire}
+$T_\partial^{(i)}$ on each side $i$, representing the low-side face
+of $H_1$ together with the depth-$0$ pendants.  It is not a child of
+any other tire (it sits at the framework's outer boundary), but the
+chain DP can use it as a special root that interfaces between the
+high-side forest interior and the cut.
+
+\section*{Definition}
+
+\paragraph{Setup.}  Fix a side $i$ of a $6$-edge cut of $G$.  Let
+$G'_i = (G[S_i] \cup \text{pendants})$ with edge depths assigned by
+BFS from pendants (depth $0$).  $H_d = $ the subgraph of $G'_i$
+spanned by depth-$d$ edges.
+
+\paragraph{The low-side face of $H_1$.}  By the level-set lemma,
+each face of $H_1$ is entirely low-side (interior contains only
+depth-$0$ edges = pendants) or entirely high-side (interior
+contains only depth-$\ge 2$ edges).  There is exactly one low-side
+face: the unique face whose interior contains the pendants.  Call
+it $f_\partial^{(i)}$.
+
+\begin{defn}[Boundary cut tire $T_\partial^{(i)}$]
+The \emph{boundary cut tire} on side $i$ is the labelled multigraph
+$T_\partial^{(i)}$ obtained from:
+\begin{itemize}
+\item The boundary walk of $f_\partial^{(i)}$ in $H_1$ (the edges
+      of $H_1$ on the boundary of the low-side face), with each
+      depth-$1$ edge contributing one cycle edge.
+\item For each boundary vertex $v$ of $f_\partial^{(i)}$ with
+      $\deg_{H_1}(v) = 2$:
+      \begin{itemize}
+      \item The pendant edge at $v$ (= depth-$0$ cut edge), labelled
+            ``OUT.''
+      \item If the third edge at $v$ has depth $2$ (= edge of $H_2$
+            in an adjacent high-side $H_1$ face), one labelled
+            ``IN'' pendant.
+      \end{itemize}
+\end{itemize}
+\end{defn}
+
+\paragraph{What $T_\partial$ looks like in special cases.}
+\begin{itemize}
+\item \emph{Side with thick BFS:} $H_1$ has multiple faces, one
+      low-side ($f_\partial$) and one or more high-side.
+      $T_\partial$ has cycle = boundary of $f_\partial$ + OUT
+      pendants (= cut edges incident to $f_\partial$'s boundary)
+      + IN pendants (= depth-$2$ edges in adjacent high-side faces).
+\item \emph{Side with thin BFS} (e.g.\ $H_1$ a tree): The unique
+      $H_1$ face is $f_\partial$.  $T_\partial$ has cycle =
+      boundary walk of this single face (each $H_1$ edge contributes
+      \emph{two} cycle-edge traversals, since the walk goes around
+      each edge on both sides) + OUT pendants at $V_{\deg = 2}$.
+      No IN pendants (no depth-$2$ edges exist).
+\end{itemize}
+
+\section*{The extended forest}
+
+The high-side cut tire forest of $G'_i$ (proven in
+\texttt{cut\_tire\_tree\_structure.tex}) has roots
+$T_1^{(f_\text{high})}$ for the high-side faces of $H_1$.
+
+\begin{defn}[Extended cut tire structure]
+The \emph{extended cut tire structure} on side $i$ is the
+high-side forest with $T_\partial^{(i)}$ adjoined as a
+\emph{boundary node}.  $T_\partial$ is not a child or parent of any
+high-side cut tire in the geometric containment sense, but it
+\emph{shares edges} with adjacent high-side tires:
+\begin{itemize}
+\item $T_\partial$ shares depth-$1$ edges with each high-side
+      depth-$1$ tire $T_1^{(f_\text{high})}$ whose face $f_\text{high}$
+      is adjacent to $f_\partial$ (= shares a boundary edge of $H_1$).
+\item $T_\partial$'s IN pendants are cycle edges of depth-$2$
+      cut tires $T_2^{(f')}$ in adjacent high-side $H_1$ faces.
+\end{itemize}
+\end{defn}
+
+\paragraph{Role in the chain DP.}  In the joint-projection chain DP,
+the per-tire state at $T_\partial$ is a set of valid edge
+$3$-colorings of $T_\partial$'s structure (cycle + OUT + IN
+pendants).  Composition with adjacent tires is via shared edges
+(same $G'_i$ edge tuple appearing in both), exactly as for the
+high-side forest.  The chain DP then has $T_\partial$ as its
+\emph{boundary interface}: the OUT pendants project to the cut, and
+the IN pendants + cycle edges propagate constraints to/from the
+high-side forest.
+
+\section*{Chain DP with $T_\partial$, sketched}
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+\item Process the high-side forest bottom-up as before, producing
+      per-tire valid coloring sets $A(T)$.
+\item Compute the valid coloring set $A(T_\partial^{(i)})$ via
+      enumeration of proper $3$-edge-colorings on $T_\partial$'s
+      structure.
+\item Restrict $A(T_\partial)$ by edge-sharing with adjacent
+      high-side tires:
+      \begin{itemize}
+      \item For each $T_1^{(f_\text{high})}$ sharing depth-$1$ edges
+            with $T_\partial$: keep $T_\partial$ colorings consistent
+            with some $A(T_1^{(f_\text{high})})$ coloring on shared
+            edges.
+      \item For each $T_2^{(f')}$ sharing a depth-$2$ edge with
+            $T_\partial$'s IN pendants: keep $T_\partial$ colorings
+            consistent with some $A(T_2^{(f')})$ coloring on the
+            shared edge.
+      \end{itemize}
+\item Project $A(T_\partial^{(i)})$ to OUT pendants $=$
+      $\mathcal{R}_i$.
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\section*{Where things stand}
+
+\paragraph{What this closes.}  The coverage gap (no high-side cut
+tires on thin sides) is resolved: $T_\partial$ always exists and
+provides the interface to the cut.
+
+\paragraph{What it leaves open.}  $T_\partial$'s ``cycle'' is the
+boundary walk of $f_\partial$, which is a closed walk in $H_1$ ---
+\emph{not} necessarily a simple cycle when $H_1$ is a tree (the walk
+traverses each edge twice).  The per-tire half (Prop 1.13) does not
+directly apply to such walks.  This is a special case of the
+``branched cut tires'' open problem in
+\texttt{chain\_half\_analysis.tex}.
+
+\paragraph{Why the chain DP can still work.}  Even without the
+per-tire half guaranteeing $|\pi(T_\partial)| \ge 6$, we can
+\emph{compute} the valid coloring set for $T_\partial$ directly
+(brute-force or constraint-propagated enumeration).  If this set
+is non-empty after edge-sharing restrictions, the chain DP yields
+a non-empty $\mathcal{R}_i$.
+
+\paragraph{Logical status of the extended framework.}
+\begin{itemize}
+\item Edge-sharing chain DP $S_3$-equivariance: still holds
+      (uniform $S_3$ action commutes with edge constraints).
+\item Tree structure: the high-side forest still forms a forest;
+      $T_\partial$ adjoined is no longer a tree but a connected
+      structure (forest + boundary node).
+\item Per-tire half for $T_\partial$: open, special case of
+      branched tires.
+\item Non-emptiness of $\mathcal{R}_i$ via the DP: open; this is
+      the \emph{primary} chain-half claim, now testable with
+      $T_\partial$ included.
+\end{itemize}
+
+\section*{Empirical next step}
+
+Re-run \texttt{chain\_dp\_joint.py} with $T_\partial$ added.
+Compare with ground truth (brute-force $G'_i$ $3$-edge colorings).
+
+For the dodecahedron cut $\#0$ side $0$:
+\begin{itemize}
+\item Ground truth: $|\mathcal{R}_\text{ground}| = 36$.
+\item Old high-side-only DP: $|\mathcal{R}_0| = 0$ (no high-side
+      tires).
+\item New $T_\partial$-extended DP: should match ground truth (or
+      reveal another gap to investigate).
+\end{itemize}
+
+\end{document}