Benefits of Slicks

[Super Dave]

Hi! New poster here...

I may be wrong but looking and using most race tires, there's no tread grooving on the edge of the tire ----> tread compound would be a larger factor between the 2, not tread. I like to think that a good DOT race tire is the same as a slick when you're cranked over... :P

Hey, welcome!

Yeah, leaned over using all the tires traction for cornering force, there the sipes are usually gone on a DOT tire.  

But when you begin to pick it up to put down the power, given that you've utilized all the traction available when leaned over, you can't accelerate leaned that far over, you will loose contact patch.  

In some tires, the loss of that contact, can change the tire temperature for the better.  Really, there are so many variables.  

If everything were the same, more contact patch means more traction.  But they would have to have the same of everything...compound, carcass constrction, size & contour, and rubber thickness.  Change any of those and the actual characteristics of traction change.  Some of those variables change the chassis which can either hinder, or help, your set up.