Performance difference between Groove and Slick Tyres?

[FIA]

What is the performance difference between Groove and Slick Tyres?

In terms of:-
Speed
Grip
Stability
Durability

[anthonyvop]

What is the performance difference between Groove and Slick Tyres?

In terms of:-
Speed
Grip
Stability
Durability
Without the grooves you would have a greater contact patch given th same size tire. Larger patch = Better grip. Better Grip = Better cornering. Better cornering = Lower lap times.

[ShiftingGears]

More stable, as you're more able to recover the car if you temporarily lose grip.

Also, graining isn't as much of a problem on slicks.

[Ddms]

All else being equal, slicks should last slightly longer, because abrasion is distributed over a larger surface. For the same tread and sidewall thickness, a slick will get hotter and stay hot longer because it lacks cooling "fins." The heat buildup breaks down materials. That could be a problem for F1 next year, but I'd guess not.

If by stability, you mean the car's tendency to go where it's pointed, that's more a function of tire architecture and construction than tread. There is an exception: Motorcyclists know that rain grooves in concrete pavement cause some tires to get all twitchy.

Anthonyvop is right about the improved traction of slicks on a dry track. But on a wet surface, the situation is reversed. Compared to grooved tires, slicks have godawful traction in the rain. I don't know whether 2009 rain tires will have grooves - if they don't, expect humungous pile-ups in wet weather. Be fun for us, but dangerous and expensive for the teams.

F1's great, but you never know what they'll come up with next. Who would even think of banning a low-rent safety feature like tire warmers?

Ddms

[maxu05]

On a wet track that is drying, the grooved tyres would be much better, so, the amount of laps that it takes for drivers on a drying track to feel comfortable switching from intermediates to slicks will increase.