In a magnetic tape drive having a plurality of stepped operational speeds, data storage logic estimates, from the effective data fill rate for a data buffer and the drive data write rate, the time cost to continue to operate the magnetic tape drive at the current stepped operational speed from a target to the next end of wrap; estimates, the time cost to force a backhitch of the magnetic tape data storage media and change the stepped operational speed to a higher stepped operational speed and operate the magnetic tape drive at the higher stepped operational speed to the next end of wrap; and determines the lesser time cost.