PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
When should you shift gears to get the best acceleration?
I recently bought a sports car and am trying to figure out how to maximize its performance! Is there an ideal moment when I should shift gears for the best acceleration?
Annette Maxon · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congrats on your new car!
The short answer to your question is that the exact moment to shift gears varies from car to car.
It boils down to two main factors—RPMs and gearing, and no two models have exactly the same torque curves and gear ratios.
Your goal is to have your tires hitting the pavement with as much torque as possible in order to maximize your acceleration.
The best time to shift up is when the torque the car can produce at a higher gear speed exceeds the torque you’re getting at the starting speed.
If you dive deeper into the mathematical equation, you’ll also find that changing gear at maximum power or at maximum torque will not improve your acceleration.
Since your car is new, it’s a good idea to make sure that it is properly insured against any unexpected damages or accidents.
Jerry
is a good place to start when shopping for car insurance
policies that are affordable and customized to your needs.So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies