I'm guessing those writers don't have an engineering degree, nor even took Physics I. Comparing skinny bias-ply tires with modern tires is silly. Tires stop the car, not the brakes. I read an article comparing modern Winter tires with All-Season. The Winter tires stopped in HALF the difference on ice, which demonstrates "tires matter". Sticky tires like come on current sports cars (Mustang, etc) can stop from 60 mph in 95 ft. Current sedans stop in ~125 ft. Current pickups in ~150 ft. If your brakes can stop the tires rotating, and do it evenly, how could any other brakes do any better?