Considering how grippy drag racing slicks are I feel like there would be a shoe equivalent
(Edit for title: tread)
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The waffle patterns in shoes, and tires, have a function.
For tires, it’s mainly offering somewhere for water to go under the tires. Also loose dirt, snow, and such. With a flat bottom, it’s harder for water and all to get out of the way quickly. As it would need to travel further under the tire to find an exit.
You definitely don’t want a layer of water, or anything else, hanging out underneath your tires. This prevents contact with the ground and greatly reduces traction.
The grooves in a tire can sometimes help dig too, in some situations, to get the loose stuff out of the way. Like a big tractor tire does. Regular road tires aren’t extremely good at it thou. Maybe okay with snow and mud depending on the conditions, definitely a lot better than a flat race tire.
With flat rubber race wheels, race on a clean dry track and you’ll be okay. Taking advantage of a bit more contact area for better traction. And, using a thinner tire to reduce the weight.
Also, more directly concerning shoes. You want a shoe to be flexible. You can use a thin sole that will quickly wear out, or a thicker layer that will last a lot longer. To make the thicker layer more flexible, cut some grooves in it.
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