Slick
From competition...
The logic is inescapable: the more rubber in contact with the road, the better the grip. Legendary GP rider Jack Findlay first tested slick tires on a privateer Italian Suzuki in 1973. Slicks were anything but an immediate success, however. "In the beginning, slicks weren't a giant step ahead, because we didn't understand them," said Barry Sheene. Not only did riders initially look upon slicks with suspicion, race officials did as well. Nevertheless, Sheene earned his first 500cc world championship in 1976, using slick tires. Not long after, the entire grid moved to slicks, and the only grooved tires that remained in Grand Prix racing were for rain use.
...to the road
Modern-day sportbike tires are not very far removed from racing slicks. As the years have passed and rubber compounds have continued to improve, tread grooves have become increasingly rare. For example, MICHELIN® Pilot® Power tires have a grooved area (sea/land ratio) of only 11.8 percent. This tread design maximizes the contact patch for incredible grip, making it possible to attain lean angles of more than 50 degrees on dry pavement, and nearly 42 degrees in the wet.
