Why F1's Full Wet Tire Is Barely a Racing Tire

Formula 1 carries two kinds of treaded tire for rain, and the more specialized of the pair is close to useless in a race. The full wet tire throws up so much spray and produces such slow lap times that it is essentially only useful for circulating behind the safety car. The intermediate tire, by contrast, has much shallower grooves and is good for racing on damp but not soaked tracks — though it quickly overheats.