Save your money and get ultra-high performance tyres instead
However good slick tyres may be on a race track, they are never meant to be used on public roads. There are several reasons why equipping your daily driver with slicks is a bad idea but the number one reason is the lack of tread patterns and grooves. While this results in greater contact area and high levels of grip on a dry surface, the tyres do not have the capability to funnel water away, meaning that you will have a hard time driving in wet conditions. Perhaps that’s what happened here.
As you can see, this Perodua Viva has turned turtle presumably after losing control and coming into contact with a steel post. The real cause of the accident is unknown but it doesn’t take an expert to see that the bad combination of slick tyres (seen fitted on the rear) and wet road surface may have played a part in this tragic event.
“But the front tyres appear to be in good condition and the Viva is a front-wheel-drive car, how could this have happened?”
This is actually a common misconception with tyres. It doesn’t matter if your car is FWD, RWD or AWD, rear tyres are vital in providing stability while steering or braking. It would be pointless to have new tyres on the front when your rear tyres are practically bald. Remember, non-existent grip on the rear tyres, combined with a slight misjudgement and bad weather conditions, can land you in a predicament just like the driver of this Viva.
Of course, nobody in their right mind would want to end up in an accident like this. So, let this unfortunate event serve as a reminder of the dangers of using slick tyres on your daily driven car or motorcycle. Save those for your track weapons. Ultra-high performance (UHP) tyres such as the Michelin Pilot Sport, Bridgestone Potenza, and Goodyear Eagle F1, to name a few, are widely available in the market and they are good enough for your weekend shenanigans. Also, check out this article for simple tyre safety tips.
