What is the difference between a set of slicks and a set of extremely, no tread at all left, street tires? Is it only the hardness/softness of the rubber compound? Or is there more. Why do really bald street tires not work well at the track?

What is the difference between a set of slicks and a set of extremely, no tread at all left, street tires? Is it only the hardness/softness of the rubber compound? Or is there more. Why do really bald street tires not work well at the track?



You answered your own question,tire compounds.

Is it only the hardness/softness of the rubber compound?

It's more of a compound/lack of compound issue...Even though bald, slicks have sticky coumpond...Bald street tires have no compound, aka "down to the steel belts"

Sort of what I figured. I just see some mud terrains and other a/t tires that wear really quickly on the street because they are so soft. I thought maybe once they were totally bald they could make a good slick, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

Beat me Neens. That answers that.

Compounding has a lot to do with it. Also, the fact that the tires on your truck have been subjected to thousands of heat cycles, that harden the rubber up over time, and the sun cooks the pertroleum out of the tire.
One of the reasons that the Mud Terrain type tires wear so fast, is because they have to be a little softer, because they have not sipes in lugs, so their wet traction would be criminal and a hazard. Also, lug tire will never wear very good because the lugs distort greatly when they hit the pavement. That distortion, causes the lugs to squirm and scrub off rubber. Since the lugs are sticking out by themselves, they don't have the support of a rib, or an AT type tires.