Editing Racing slick (section)

==Performance==
{{See also|Tire load sensitivity}}
Two [[stress (mechanics)|stress]] mechanisms produce tyre [[grip (auto racing)|grip]]:<ref name="racecar-engineering"/>
* Indentation of the [[viscoelastic]] tyre rubber adapting to the texture of the road surface
* Molecular [[adhesion]] at the interface between the tyre rubber and the road surface

Slick tyres can provide far more traction than grooved tyres on dry roads, but typically have far less traction than grooved tyres under wet conditions. Wet roads severely diminish the traction because of [[aquaplaning]] due to water trapped between the tyre contact area and the road surface. Grooved tyres are designed to remove water from the contact area through the grooves, thereby maintaining traction even in wet conditions.

Since there is no tread pattern, slick tyre tread does not deform much under load. The reduced [[deformation (engineering)|deformation]] allows the tyre to be constructed of softer compounds without excessive overheating and blistering. Modern day slick tyres have now developed particular performance qualities in a specific window of temperatures, becoming sticky when accumulating enough heat, and thus give much greater adhesion to the road surface,<ref name="racecar-engineering">{{Cite web |last=Hatton |first=Gemma |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Tyre grip |url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/tech-explained/tyre-grip/}}</ref> but they also have lower [[treadwear rating]]s; ''i.e.'' they wear out much more quickly than the harder rubber tyres used for driving on the streets. It is not uncommon for drivers in some auto sports to wear out multiple sets of tyres during a single day's driving.