What is the relationship between gear and speed?
2 Answers
The recommended speed for each gear is 15 km/h for 1st gear, 25 km/h for 2nd gear, 35 km/h for 3rd gear, 55 km/h for 4th gear, and 65 km/h for 5th gear. Slow clutch engagement can cause mismatch: When the speedometer reaches the shifting speed, if the operation is not proficient, pressing the accelerator and engaging the clutch slowly causes the speed to drop. At this point, the speed is already below the shifting speed, resulting in vehicle shaking and a mismatch between speed and gear. Some drivers monitor the tachometer; when releasing the clutch, if the engine speed does not match the current vehicle speed—meaning there is a difference between the engine speed and the clutch disc speed—it often results in the engine speed being lower than the clutch disc speed. This creates a jerky sensation during shifting, indicating a mismatch between speed and gear during the shift. Shifting before reaching the recommended speed causes mismatch: If shifting begins before the vehicle reaches the recommended shifting speed, it will inevitably lead to a mismatch between speed and gear.
During my last mountain run, I noticed the gear and speed were like a tango. Lower gears are like sprinters—explosive power, especially in 1st and 2nd gear when starting or climbing hills, but they don’t go fast and guzzle fuel. Once speed hits around 40 km/h, it’s time to shift to 3rd gear—the engine sound noticeably relaxes. On highways, cruising at 80 km/h in 5th gear is most efficient, with RPM dropping below 2,000 for great fuel economy. Here’s the key: high gears at low speeds make the car shudder like it’s gasping for air, while low gears at high speeds turn the engine into a headache-inducing roar—push it too hard, and you’ll be heading straight to the shop. On long drives, I rely on engine sound for shifts: when RPM nears 3,000, it’s time to upshift.
