Cheat sheet

Gearing & shift drop

Road speed comes from RPM, tyre circumference and the gear × final-drive ratio. Shift landing is simpler: new RPM = shift RPM × next ratio ÷ current ratio. Keep the landing inside the useful power band, not merely below redline.

Worked six-speed at 7,000 rpm — 225/45 R17, 3.90 final drive
GearRatioSpeedSpeedNext gear lands at
1st3.50:161.3 km/h38.1 mph4,200 rpm
2nd2.10:1102.2 km/h63.5 mph4,850 rpm
3rd1.45:1148.0 km/h92.0 mph5,300 rpm
4th1.10:1195.1 km/h121.2 mph5,400 rpm
5th0.85:1252.5 km/h156.9 mph5,600 rpm
6th0.68:1315.6 km/h196.1 mph

Speeds are generated by the live gear-ratio calculator. They are mathematical road speeds with no tyre growth or slip. The ratios are an example stack, not a recommendation for every engine.

Quick shift-drop table
RPM dropFrom 7,000From 8,000Next/current ratio
10%630072000.90
15%595068000.85
20%560064000.80
25%525060000.75
30%490056000.70
35%455052000.65
40%420048000.60

A 25% drop means the next gear is 0.75 times the current ratio. Example: 1.10 to 0.83 lands close to this row. Compare the landing RPM with the dyno curve before changing ratios.