This raises an interesting question for me: does tread help to dispose of surface debris that might cause punctures on

I've been commuting on various 23mm slicks over the last year, all of which were fine even on wet roads until the winter road really started to settle in. On the MUP I ride most of the way to work, the park authority that manages the path put de-icing compound and fine rock chips (I mean really fine: tiny chipped bits of rock averaging 2-3mm across with sharp points) down on all the wooden trestle bridges when the temperatures started to dip toward freezing, and while that was no doubt helpful for pedestrians, it led me to three punctures in a week, all from those little rock chips. I decided that my current slicks were 'worn out', and ordered a new set of Panaracers which had received good reviews as an all-season commuter, and which happen to carry a light (~2mm) tread pattern. Riding these, I note that the chips are still adhering to the tires, but are mostly getting trapped in the tread spaces rather than being driven through the tire body. If I regularly clean the tire surface (as I had done with the slicks too), those chips don't seem to have a chance to dig into the tire surface, and I've not flatted since fitting the new tires. Placebo effect, lucky coincidence, or a possible win for light tread?