[TheRealJA105]

To show you how much rubber there is on the tire

[TrackClub]

Wow! You guys found a real deep subject here. Pun fully intended

[TrackClub]

But to be technically correct: rubber is tread. Groves are pattern. Per Pirelli, slicks are "tires with smooth tread".
In other words, no pattern such as groves of any kind.

[TheRealJA105]

Ok I'll take the L here.
I see the definition both ways and I've always known and heard tread to be: the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire vs: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road.

[TrackClub]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

Ok I'll take the L here.
I see the definition both ways and I've always known and heard tread to be: the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire vs: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road.

Ditto here and i think most of us use the meaning of tread this way, but the Pirelli website sat me straight technically speaking