Thanks glassdoctor,

I was reading through the Mamba Max Tuning Guide today (didn't notice it before :dft001: ) which basically says not to approach the gearing the same way you would do with a brushed motor. Wtih a brushed motor you have to combine torque with speed. A brushless only needs to be approached in terms of the time it takes to get to full speed. So this indeed implies to use a tooth or two less like you and jollyjumper say.