Glossary / Transmission

gear ratios

32 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Gear ratios are like the gears in a bike; they decide how fast or strong the car moves. Picking the right ones helps the car go faster on a track.

Technical Definition

Gear ratios refer to the relationship between the engine’s output speed and torque and the wheel speed, determining acceleration and top speed. Adjusting them can tailor a car’s performance to specific track conditions.

Hear It Discussed

"my main concern is that the gear ratios will sap some of the fun out of everyday driving that is the problem"
976: Future Cars For Henry Ford, I Don’t Want To Be Bronco Guy, The Volkswagen Army Shows Up Everyday Driver Car Debate 10:10

"...the gear ratios in those cars are really, really tall. And when you've got that low down torque..."
Great cars with rubbish engines (and vice versa) #274 The Intercooler 06:42

"The mechanical specifics like gear ratios, brake bias, and turbo spool characteristics were way beside the point."
S2 Ep7: Why The Drift King Chose The AE86 for Initial D Past Gas 24:45