Yes fuel economy. Energy expended per distance traveled or power needed to maintain a given speed. Just the fuel in this case is burned by your own body.
At world class levels, a few watts here and there will make a big difference by the end of a race.
All the studies I’ve read (and my experience) show that narrower tires and higher pressures improve economy. Less traction and less ride comfort are the tradeoffs, respectively.
Road bicycles like the ones used in the Tour de France use pressures in the 120-140 psi range, but cars generally float around the 32 psi area.
Probably less these days as it’s shown lower pressures and larger tires can improve performance.
Which type of performance? Surely not fuel economy/emissions?
Yes fuel economy. Energy expended per distance traveled or power needed to maintain a given speed. Just the fuel in this case is burned by your own body.
At world class levels, a few watts here and there will make a big difference by the end of a race.
Aah, gotcha. I had thought that
was in reference to this part at the end of the parent comment:
and I haven’t seen anything to contradict all the previous literature on under-inflated automobile tires being worse for fuel economy.
Source?
All the studies I’ve read (and my experience) show that narrower tires and higher pressures improve economy. Less traction and less ride comfort are the tradeoffs, respectively.