Source: wikiHow
Driving uphill can be tough, especially if the slope is steep. In particular, if you drive a manual, you might have problems with stalling or rolling backwards. Shifting to a lower gear is the key to delivering power to your wheels and controlling your speed. Even if you drive an automatic, manually downshifting is wise when driving both uphill and downhill.
In addition to mastering downshifting, you should also work on parking and starting techniques. It might take a little practice, but you can get the hang of driving uphill in no time!- 1 Accelerate as you approach the hill, but maintain a safe speed. Steadily increase speed as you approach the hill so inertia will help your vehicle ascend the incline. Gain inertia, but be sure to obey the posted speed limit.[1]
Safety tip: Keep in mind the posted speed limit may be too fast if the road is slick. For instance, the posted limit may be 65 mph (about 100 kph), but you should drive half that speed or less in bad weather.[3]
- 2 Depress the clutch, then shift to a lower gear. Press the clutch, ease off of the gas pedal, and shift the gear stick 1 to 2 gears lower than your current one. When you ease off of the gas to downshift, the RPM (revolutions per minute, or how hard the engine is working) will decrease. The right RPM at which to downshift varies, so check your vehicle’s manual.[4]
- Generally speaking, downshift to third at around 3000 to 4000 RPM, or around 30 to 40 mph (about 45 to 60 kph), and to second at 2000 to 3000 RPM, or around 20 to 30 mph (about 30 to 45 kph).[5]
- 3 Release the clutch gradually as you step on the gas. After you’ve shifted to a lower gear, gradually ease off of the clutch as you gently depress the gas pedal. The RPM will continue to decrease when you’re in the lower gear, so gradually press the gas pedal harder to balance the RPM with your road speed.[6]
- 4 Downshift to first or second before climbing a very steep hill. If you’re ascending a very steep slope or driving a…
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