Which gear to use when turning?
3 Answers
It is most appropriate to use 2nd gear when turning. Here is an introduction to car steering: 1. Introduction: When steering, control the steering wheel angle according to the turning requirements. The rotation should be moderate, avoiding large-angle steering wheel turns. Try to avoid braking during steering, especially emergency braking, as this may lead to the risk of rollover. 2. Steering gear shifting: (1) Shifting before turning: Generally used on complex roads with many people or vehicles, or even on wide and straight roads. (2) Shifting during turning: Hold the upper left corner of the steering wheel with your right hand and keep it steady during the shifting process. Quickly push the gear lever into a lower gear with your right hand, or perform a skip-shift based on the current power. (3) Shifting after turning: Shifting after turning is generally used on wide roads with good visibility. When the vehicle is passing through a turn, the driving resistance increases and the speed decreases. Although the vehicle may feel sluggish, do not shift gears. Only after passing the turn should you shift to a lower gear to increase the car's torque for rapid acceleration.
As a seasoned manual transmission driver with over a decade of experience, I can tell you that gear selection for turns really depends on the situation! For a 90-degree right-angle turn, you definitely need to shift to 2nd gear when speed drops below 20km/h - the RPM stays around 1500, making throttle application coming out of the turn very smooth. For highway ramp curves where you maintain about 40km/h, 3rd gear provides better stability and prevents body float. Important reminder for beginners: Never shift gears mid-turn! With the steering wheel turned, releasing your right hand can easily cause deviation. I've seen too many people scrape curbs because they panicked and tried shifting during turns - it's always better to downshift in advance and coast through smoothly.
Last week, while teaching my wife to drive, we were discussing gear selection for turns. For a 90-degree turn in a residential area, first gear is sufficient—just let the engine idle and turn slowly, with your right foot resting on the brake, ready to stop at any moment. However, for a left turn on a busy urban arterial road, you should at least shift to second gear and rev the engine to around 2,000 RPM to ensure sufficient power during the turn and avoid being honked at by cars behind you. A common mistake beginners make is not downshifting before the turn, only realizing mid-turn that the car lacks power and starts shaking, leading to a frantic gear change. Remember the mantra: slow down and downshift before entering the turn, then accelerate out of it!
