If low profile tires adds performance on a vehicle especially on super/sports cars, why do F1 cars have thick tires?
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It’s not necessarily the profile itself which adds performance. If the car is designed for high-profile tires, then a low-profile tire would reduce performance.
F1 cars essentially use the sidewall as a suspension component. The sidewall flexes and this can be exploited for ride compliance and roll control.
Having said that, F1 is changing to 18″ wheels with low-profile tires for this year, which means totally re-designing the suspension and brakes to account for the lack of sidewall compliance and manage tire temperatures.
Everything is a compromise. A thinner low profile sidewall means the whole wheel and tire assembly flexes less which is better for handling but gives you a rougher ride. A smaller sidewall means the wheel is larger so you can accommodate larger brakes but generally speaking, tire is lighter than a wheel. The entire wheel and brake assembly is not supported by the car’s suspension, higher unsprung weight makes handling worse. Generally speaking most road cars have low profile tires because people think they look cooler.
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