8 uses of paddle shifters on a car's steering wheel.

(Baonghean.vn) - LPaddle shifters integrated into the steering wheel are becoming increasingly common, even on mainstream car models; however, not all drivers are aware of their uses. Here are a few uses you'll surely find interesting.

1. Sporty driving feel

Uses of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel 1

With models equipped with paddle shifters, although they don't offer the same "premium" driving feel as a manual transmission, paddle shifters still give the driver a sporty driving experience while allowing them to control gears and engine RPM.

2. Downhill

Use the paddle shifters when descending a hill to take advantage of engine braking, avoiding excessive brake disc overheating from continuous braking. Click the (-) paddle to downshift until you reach a suitable speed.

If the slope decreases and you want the car to go faster, click the (+) paddle to shift up. Depending on the slope, you can use gears 1, 2, or 3. Most cars allow you to use the paddle shifters even when in D gear without having to switch to M or S. The car will stay in the gear you selected until you accelerate, at which point it will return to automatic shifting mode.

3. Climbing a hill

The usefulness of paddle shifters on the steering wheel when climbing hills.

Regarding using lower gears to increase traction when climbing hills, the procedure is similar to overtaking. For descending and ascending hills, the rule "use the same gear going down as you used going up" can be applied.

4. Effective overtaking

It's understandable to feel uncomfortable driving behind another vehicle. Therefore, if you want to overtake them, the driver should use the gear shift lever in the (-) position. Your car in a lower gear will have more momentum and power, and combined with the accelerator, it will make overtaking other vehicles traveling in the same direction much easier.

This should only be used when overtaking on the highway, and don't forget to comply with traffic laws regarding overtaking other vehicles. Similarly, when going downhill, you can use the paddle shifters to overtake while in D gear.

5. Increased off-road capability

Paddle shifters on the steering wheel enhance off-road capability.

In challenging terrain conditions where automatic transmissions react slowly to changes in terrain, using manual shift controls to master the gear ratios will make it easier to overcome obstacles.

6. Reduce fuel consumption

Once you've mastered using the paddle shifters, you can upshift faster than the car normally does when shifting automatically. Click the (+) paddle immediately after you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal to minimize engine drag, the opposite of when you need this drag for downhill driving.

At this point, the car is moving almost entirely by inertia; many modern models will automatically cut off the fuel supply once the car is in the correct gear and the driver is not using the accelerator pedal.

7. When the brakes fail

And the deceleration effect

In situations where the braking system is no longer effective, to decelerate, we need to use engine braking to reduce the vehicle's speed. Use the shift paddles to shift to lower gears to reduce engine power, thereby slowing the vehicle down.

8. Controlling the vehicle in slippery road conditions.

In some situations, you may not need as much traction at the start of driving to maintain better control, such as on slippery surfaces. In that case, you can use the (+) paddle to immediately shift into second gear and take your foot off the brake pedal.

Similarly, using the (-) paddle shifters to downshift and reduce speed on slippery roads can help you maintain better control of the vehicle when braking. Downshifting and reducing speed is similar to going downhill. However, it's important to note that this should only be done sparingly, as using the transmission to stop the vehicle instead of the brakes can damage the transmission in the long run.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)