Gearing Ratios: Tall Gearing Vs Short Gearing Comprehensive Guide (2024)

Transmission in no two cars is the same these days as it entirely depends upon the power and torque output to the clutches. In a country like India, transmissions are also used to control many factors apart from power and torque. Here is a comprehensive guide on the gearing ratios as to the characteristics of tall gearing versus short gearing ratios.

Gears comprise all kinds of mechanical transmissions, be it a fully manual or a dual-clutch. CVTs being an exception, feature an unlimited number of gearing ratios. Gears of different sizes are used to transmit power from the engine to the axle of the vehicle as per the need of the hour. the primary gear meshes with other combinations of gears to produce the desired pulling power and speed. So, this guide would primarily focus on the effects of gearing on various parameters.

Enthusiastic Driving:

• Short gearing means that you would be able to use the gear for a shorter RPM band.
• Short gearing provides on-demand peak torque along with the power to the drivers.
• Short gearing makes the drive more enthusiastic as you get more precise control over the acceleration of the vehicle.

Cruising:

• Taller gear ratios in a car facilitate a more enjoyable as well as relaxed highway driving experience.
• If two vehicles with the same engine are coupled with two different transmissions, the one with the taller gears would be able to achieve much higher speeds easily.
• Taller gears also help to reduce engine noise and enhance cruising comfort on the road as the engine runs on a lower RPM, thus bringing down the NVH levels.
• However, taller gear ratios mean that you would not be able to get instant pulling power in the same gear. Thus, you would have to downshift to overtake on the motorways.

Fuel Efficiency:

• Fuel efficiency is majorly dependent on the driving patterns of an individual but can also be significantly influenced by gearing ratios.
• Tall gearing helps to ride at low engine speeds comfortably, thus returning a decent amount of fuel efficiency in the long run.
• Short gearing tends to reduce mileage as the engine attains high speeds frequently, thus consuming more fuel.

Also Read: Tata Altroz Diesel Highway Mileage Is 27.41 Kmpl At 90 km/h - Video.

Bumper to Bumper traffic commute:

• Gear ratios play a crucial role in driving the vehicle in bumper-to-bumper traffic as the top speed is capped as per the pace of the other vehicles on road.
• Short gearing in an automatic can be a boon for you in this situation if you drive an automatic as you would not need to pressurize your car's engine to move from a standstill and you may be driving at minimum speeds in a higher gear thus saving a lot of fuel.
• However, if you are driving a manual, short gearing can be a pain to drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic as you'll have to frequently change gears and you might end up giving a good workout to your left calf.
• Short gearing is done to enhance the widespread of low-end torque. This helps in increasing the fuel economy & tractability of the engine.

Also Read: AMT Vs iMT, Which One Is The Best For You?

So, how do automotive transmission manufacturers cope with these shortcomings of short and tall gearing? Gear ratios are adjusted as per the need and the platform on which the vehicles are based. For instance, two vehicles from the same manufacturers equipped with the same engine need to be differentiated as per the target slab.

Hyundai Motors India Limited introduced two offerings in the B segment of hatchbacks, namely the Hyundai Grand i10 and Hyundai i20, with the same engine options but with different transmissions. The Hyundai Grand i10 was presented as a budget segment hatchback belonging to the B1 segment, while the i20 was offered as a B2 segment hatchback. The Hyundai i20 was more inclined towards performance with a more responsive transmission.

Also Read: What Are The Pros and Cons of CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission)?

The transmission manufacturers also tend to provide short gearing for initial gears to improve the low-end performance of the vehicle and introduce tall gearing for the higher gears to provide a decent amount of ride comfort and controlled NVH levels. This smart technological tactic not only makes the highway commute enjoyable but also helps to save a lot of fuel.