Comments on: Car Gear Ratios Explained https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/ Learning to drive guides, advice and tutorials Sat, 29 Nov 2025 21:40:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: Xochitl https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-2823 Sat, 29 Nov 2025 21:40:26 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-2823 Thank you for this basic and easy-to-understand explanation! I don’t know much about cars, and I don’t feel more confused after reading this. So helpful!

]]> By: Wayne Boone https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-2272 Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:55:26 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-2272 The explanation makes perfect sense. However, in the illustration the input gear for 5th gear is actually smaller than the 4th gear input gear. Which is inconsistent with the trend of increasing input gear size in the higher gears. It looks like the 4th and 5th gears in the illustration need to be reversed?

]]> By: Crutt https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-2013 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 03:15:07 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-2013 In some articles, gear ratios are often used to describe gears like they’re actually a size thing or measurement. Kinda confusing.
If 1st gears are commonly low gears, then why are they of highest ratio as described above? Aren’t they supposed to be of lowest ratio? That’s why they’re called low gear in the first place, aren’t they?
I guess it’s just a matter of which ratio one happens to choose? meaning if one chooses to use the number of Output teeth over the number of Input teeth (O/I) then you have a high ratio (for 1st gear), right? But if I over O is chosen, it then gives a low ratio for the same 1st gear. Which should be the case, right? Low gears have low ratios, high gears have high ratios? for consistency.

]]> By: Anonymous https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-1947 Fri, 12 May 2023 10:33:45 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-1947 In reply to DJ Khaled.

yw

]]> By: Learn Driving Tips https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-1832 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 13:54:28 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-1832 In reply to Buddhika Aruna.

Hi Buddhika,
No problem.

]]> By: Buddhika Aruna https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-1831 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:53:42 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-1831 Thanks for explanation

]]> By: Anonymous https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-1066 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 06:38:13 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-1066 Nice explanation.

]]> By: DJ Khaled https://learndriving.tips/learning-to-drive/how-to-change-gear-in-manual-car/learning-car-gears-faq/car-gear-ratios-explained/#comment-59 Sun, 05 Sep 2021 01:10:26 +0000 https://learndriving.tips/?page_id=1651#comment-59 Very informative and straightforward explanation – thank you!

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