What Speed for Which Gear?
3 Answers
Gear and speed matching relationship is as follows: 1. First gear for starting: Use first gear when starting, generally for speeds below 15 km/h. Suitable for uphill roads, traffic jams, muddy/wet roads, and foggy conditions. 2. Second gear speed: Shift to second gear when reaching 15 km/h. Second gear is also used for uphill roads, turns, narrow roads, and hazy conditions. 3. Third gear shifting: Third gear is appropriate for driving at around 30 km/h. Shift to fourth gear at 40 km/h, and use fifth gear for speeds above 50 km/h. These are normal driving speeds - choose based on road conditions.
Actually, shifting gears based on RPM is more reliable than speed when driving a manual transmission. I usually keep an eye on the tachometer. After starting in 1st gear, shift to 2nd when the RPM exceeds 2000, which is around 20km/h; shift to 3rd at approximately 40km/h, keeping the RPM between 1800 and 2200 for the smoothest ride; shift to 4th at 60km/h; and use 5th gear at 80km/h for the best fuel efficiency. However, when going uphill, delay upshifting—for example, if you normally shift at 2000 RPM on flat roads, wait until 2500 RPM when climbing to prevent severe shaking. Never coast in neutral on long downhill slopes; instead, use 3rd or 4th gear to utilize engine braking, which helps prevent the brakes from overheating.
Right after getting my driver's license, the instructor taught me a rhyme: 'Don't exceed 20 km/h in 1st gear, 40 in 2nd, or 60 in 3rd.' However, in practice, I found huge variations between cars. When driving a small-displacement car, the engine would roar at 40 km/h in 3rd gear, but my friend's 2.0T vehicle remained quiet at 50 km/h in 4th. In city traffic jams, 5th gear is rarely needed—3rd gear offers the most flexibility for stop-and-go. Once on the highway, I hit 120 km/h in 5th gear with RPMs soaring to 3500, only to later realize the car had a 6th gear—a common rookie mistake. I recommend checking the gear-shift indicator on the dashboard or listening for the engine sound becoming labored as cues to upshift.
