Already ran with Z221s in the second video. Trying higher gears was slower... Was struggling to pull out of most corners

 

Wow, i didn't think the 4.44 would make all that much difference!

 

Faster around corners would want *taller* (numerically lower) gearing, not shorter.
If 4.1 is "optimal", then if you suddenly started cornering at 10% higher speeds, "optimal" gearing would go to 4.1/1.10 = 3.73 to be at the same rpm in corners.

 

It will totally depend on the track, but in my experience (stock AP1 on R-comps), 4.1 is pretty good for most tracks.

The desire to believe that gearing is always a huge performance improvement is significant in these parts (s2ki)! But in general it will only help acceleration numbers from a dead stop or very low-speed roll. Above that, whether they are an advantage or a DISadvantage depends totally on the speeds you are accelerating from and to.

 

we run the 4.77s in our stu s2k, but I have the sequential so very little time lost shifting.

 

^which takes the slowness of shifting out the equation (for the most part) and in that case I could see how it's very beneficial.

 

While i understand what you are saying my theory behind that is if he is able to carry more speed, then he will be out of the inbetween gear stages, 1000rpm greater in some area's could mean the world of difference in terms of not bogging down.

 

Obviously, if the cornering speeds increase, optimal gearing is affected. If 4.1 was near optimal for this car at this track, and cornering speeds go up by ~20-25% (possible going from good street tires to Hoosier A6 I suppose), then it's possible that 4.44 gears in the next higher trans gear could be an improvement. Gearing low enough to be in the next transmission ratio up does give the marginal benefit of slightly closer ratios (i.e., 2-3 loses you 2500rpm from 9000, 3-4 only loses you 1940rpm). To get that benefit at the same cornering speeds, assuming 4.1 is optimal, you'd have to jump beyond 5:1, though, and then at faster tracks you might be running out of gear in 6th.

The point is that you can't just go to lower (numerically higher) gears and just expect to be faster at a road course or at an autoX as a matter of course. Best gearing depends heavily on the rest of the car's setup and the track or course being run. Shouldn't be at all surprising that if the stock gearing was working well at a track for a given setup, that 4.44's might be slower due to more upshifting and being out of the powerband at critical corner exits.

 

I'd be personally looking for ways to get more midrange out of the car so that gears don't seem necessary. Back when I had my first I almost pulled the trigger on 4.44s. I'm not in a 06 and have no desire to touch the gears. I'll get far more out of a flashpro and tune with vtec lowered. Not sure if that's an option for you or not. On anyone with a 06+ I'd absolutely go flashpro and tune over gears. If I can get vtec lowered and open up midrange and I can't see wanting the gearing to be any shorter.