The science of tires is complex and simple at the same time.
Since tires are the only direct contact between the bike and road the contact patch size
is important, the tire size, the tire pressure, the tire construction, and the tire thread
design all go into ride and control. Change any one of these variables and the bike
will handle and ride differently. This is why tire selection and pressure maintance is
so darned important on a bike.
All that said, to gain maximum safe performance of your bike (and to a degree your car)
learn about the variables that make up tires to allow you to select the corrrect tire for the
job. Just throwing rubber on the wheel isn't a smart way to buy tires.