Economy Car Cruising Speed from RPM

Find the cruising speed of a front-wheel-drive economy car running 1,500 RPM in top gear with 205/55R16 tires and a 3.74 final drive.

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How to use this tool

Enter the engine RPM you want to evaluate.
Enter the overall tire diameter in inches.
Enter the transmission gear ratio for the selected gear and the axle ratio.
The calculator returns vehicle speed in MPH.

Modern economy cars cruise at very low RPM — enter your tire diameter, transmission, and axle ratios to confirm your actual highway speed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate vehicle speed from RPM?: Speed (MPH) = RPM × tire circumference (in) ÷ (gear ratio × axle ratio × 1,056). The constant 1,056 converts inches/minute to MPH (63,360 in/mile ÷ 60 min/hr).
Why does gear ratio matter for speed?: A lower (numerically higher) gear ratio like 3.73 gives more torque but less top speed than a ratio like 2.73 at the same RPM.