If the skids expanded, they would protrude more and therefore be more prone to wear. That is the exact opposite of what the "trick" should do. Furthermore they wouldn't be flush with the plank after cooling down again for re-scrutineering, which would be weird because that is tightly regulated.

So I don't know who came up with this rumor, but it makes sense on no level whatsoever.

Fascinating. I wonder how that works, how titanium would expand when heated?