Eli5: Why are f1 tires smooth and grippy, but street tires with no tread are dangerous and slippery

Question

When you Google why are f1 tires smooth, the answer is no tread means more surface area, so better grip, but when you Google why do street tires have grooves, the same answer comes up. I’m confused. Also, is this a physics question, engineering or technology? Lol

In: Engineering

Answer 1

If it’s raining or wet at an F1 race they switch to tires that actually have grooves in them.

We as normal people don’t have tire change crews waiting at home so the default is that we need tires with grooves for when rain or snow is in the forecast.