Originally Posted by
Eric F
I also realized that I hadn't read/seen anything discussing the effects of tire tread on aerodynamic drag.
This is the only article that comes to mind:
What effect do tyres have on aerodynamics? | Cycling Weekly
Summary: JP Ballard from Swiss Side stated that Continental GP4000S II tire has sidewall and tread that improves transition of boundary layer from laminar to turbulent flow.
More recently (GP5000 vs. TT):
Tire dependence for the aerodynamics of yawed bicycle wheels - ScienceDirect