Just curious. Driving with 'slicks'.

[CanadaCraig]

Hi Guys!!

I'm curious.

What would it be like to drive our car with 'slicks'? [Tires with no tread pattern at all] Would it be better or worse? And I'm just talking about normal, everyday driving.

Silly question? Well... just add it to my list!!

Craig!!

[RMC_SS_LDO]

Not sure about where you are but in some areas it is actually illegal. If you came across any water, sand, gravel or anything else that would affect traction you're done for.

It might be fun, but I would leave the slicks for the track ONLY.

[Rambit]

There are some street legal DOT approved slicks, but they tend to have minimal tread. I know Mickey Thompson makes them, probably others as well.

The whole idea of slicks is to put as much contact surface on the road for greater traction, thus the minimal tread. The problem with that is the slightest wet condition will result in severe hydroplaining.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels

Bernie

[Steve Levin]

I don't know about drag slicks, but with the DOT-R type tires (which are nearly slicks but street legal) you'll find that

1) driving when wet will be very unwise);
1a) they will be terrible until you have heat in them
2) They will be like a vacuum cleaner sucking debris up off the road and flinging it around
3) they will be much more susceptible to damage as they often have just 6/32's tread to start with and are very soft.

Steve

[WA 2 FST]

To add to what the others have said, your car will handle very, very poorly. Most slicks or DOT slicks are bias ply tires, and the sidewalls are very flexible... meaning you'll feel like you are "floating" around corners.

It would help the car take off from a standing start, but they would not be safe at sustained high-end speeds, and the horrible trade-off in handling ... would ruin the experience of our cars on the street, IMHO.

<<----- Been there, done that (not with this car, though)