Quote:
Originally Posted by terrylamar
The lower the number, the higher the rpm.
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Actually, it's the opposite. The larger the number, the higher the RPMs of the engine will be.
Copperhead has it right. The way it is usually talked about makes it kind of an odd concept.
When people say they are lowering their gear ration, the are actually going to a gear set that has a higher number but the reference to a lower gear ratio means a lower top speed.
If you have 3.42 gear ratio, your drive shaft will turn 3.42 revolutions to one revolution of the wheel. If you have a 3.58 gear ratio your drive shaft will turn 3.58 revolutions for one revolution of the wheel giving you a lower top speed and slightly higher RPM if all other factors are the same.
The other factors are tire size being 22.5 or 24.5 and low profile or not. Also the transmission matters. Some are direct drive meaning the output to the drive shaft is equal to engine RPM's in high gear. Some are overdrive meaning the drive shaft is going slightly faster then engine RPM's in high gear. There are even some underdrive transmissions out there though they are not very common.