Hi! I started to learn manual shifting and it’s fun, but I’m not sure how to determine the optimal RPM for shifting. Usually go to the max before the gear starts “choking” or like mid red zone. I noticed that in automatic the game shifts right before the red zone, but if I’m just replicating that what’s the point of manual? I read here and there that optimal shift points vary for different cars, but is there a tried and true method to determine what this point is for a particular car?
I shift just the tiny bit before the engine hits the rev limiter.
One good way to learn better what is optimal rpm to change gear is to watch power curve, for example S2 tuned mclaren senna it reach max power at 8000 rpm so that is point where i change the gear and with same tune automatic change gear at 7200rpm and that car is mutch slower with automatic. and for example S1 tuned ferrari california T top end power curve is “flat” so there is not that clear optimal gear change point and also there manual vs automatic dont have mutch difference.
If you really want to optimize gear chancing i recommended learning using clutch right away, some cars like bugatti EB110 in S1 class is way mutch faster when using manual w/clutch and even with manual that car is mutch slower. (1km drag strip EB110 is over 0,5s faster with manual w/clutch than with manual.)
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I’m also getting used to manual, and today I felt brave and threw in a clutch and UGH, UGH, ARGHHH, it was as if my drivatar began suffering consecutive grand mal seizures every 35 seconds or so. None of the button configurations even come close to helping establish any kind of rhythm or sense of non-chaotic motion. Any wisdom?
Im not pro using clutch either, but it’s just practicing that a lot so it come natuaraly in muscle memory just like every other game where you need to press multiple buttons in same time.
Most cars I just shift just before the rev limiter, which is what you are calling “choking”. The diesel vehicles, like the Tankpool Truck it is actually better to shift about 1000rpm before redline. If you actually wanted to calculate the best time to shift, open up your telemetry and it will lest HP, you will notice as the RPM’s go up the HP also goes up, at some point the RPM’s will keep going up but HP will either stop increasing or will start to decrease, you want to shift so that at the start of the gear you are shifting into the HP is the same as it was in the gear you shifted out off. So here is a quick example.
3500rpm-475hp
4000rpm-500hp
4500rpm-515hp
5000rpm-520hp
5500rpm-515hp
6000rpm-510hp
6500rpm-500hp
7000rpm-460hp
In this particular example, you would want to shift somewhere between 6000 and 6500rpm, and tune the gears so that doing this will allow you to be between 4000 and 4500rpm after the shift. The power curve of every car is different, and every car has different gear ratios so there is no generic best time to shift, it is different for every car.
I make the clutch LB, shift up is X and shift down is A. Let off the gas and push LB at the same time, immediately after this push X then immediately let go of LB and get back on the gas.
When using manual+clutch the pattern is 1: release throttle, 2 hit and hold clutch, 3 move up/down gear, 4 release clutch, 5 get back on throttle. *For the best acceleration you can skip letting off throttle but it takes practice and timing to do that properly (*only on controller) There is also matching revs and stuff to make shifts more smooth.
Switch clutch and handbrake in the settings. This puts clutch right under your thumb with the A button. You hit the A right before you shift up/ down with the B/ X buttons. Kinda roll your thumb into it slightly for fastest shifts.
Many engines you can take well into redline for shifting. Others perform better shifting before redline. Upper RPM high hp engines shift later. High torque low RPM engines you may find it’s better to shift earlier to keep the engine in the strongest part of the torque curve.
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What’s also important is preselecting gears and quick downshifting when needed to maximize power. This is very important with high powered light cars and no traction control.
It’s a must in offroad races, when you hit something the AT gearbox will often struggle and “choke” before it finds the correct gear. If you know your car and the length of the gears you can prepare yourself for it and drive away in full power.
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