Slick bicycle tires are more slippery on wet surfaces than treaded tires
Slick or worn-down tires provide less traction and are more prone to hydroplaning on wet surfaces because treaded tires and grooves are specifically designed to channel water away from the contact patch.
The claim is specific, empirical, and well-supported by multiple studies showing that tread patterns and grooves are crucial for maintaining wet traction and preventing hydroplaning, whereas smooth or worn tires lack this water-channeling capability.
AR Williams, MS Evans. Influence of Tread Wear Irregularity on Wet Friction Performance of Tires. 1983. https://doi.org/10.1520/stp28517s
This study notes that a reduction in tread pattern depth leads to a reduction in wet skidding resistance on low macrotexture roads.
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B. J. Allbert. Tires and Hydroplaning. 1968. https://doi.org/10.4271/680140
This paper highlights the geometric design of the tread pattern as the most important tire factor in preventing hydroplaning on wet roads.
Jinn-Tong Chiu, Chau-Rung Shui. Analysis of the Wet Grip Characteristics of Tire Tread Patterns. 2018. https://doi.org/10.2346/tire.18.460103
This research demonstrates that the inclusion of transverse grooves and tread patterns significantly enhances wet grip capacity compared to straight grooves.
Tadashi Suzuki, Tatsuo Fujikawa. Improvement of Hydroplaning Performance Based on Water Flow around Tires. 2001. https://doi.org/10.4271/2001-01-0753
This study shows that properly arranged tread grooves improve hydroplaning performance by successfully channeling water away from the contact area.
K. S. Lee. Effects of Sipes on the Viscous Hydroplaning of Pneumatic Tires. 1998. https://doi.org/10.2346/1.2135955
This finite element analysis demonstrates that tread features like sipes and zigzagged elements are effective in improving traction and controlling viscous hydroplaning on wet pavement.
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