Choose the Right Golf Car Tread

When buying a golf cart, one of the most important issues to address is what you will be using the cart for and which tires you will need to purchase. The right tire is going to depend on what terrain you will mostly be using the golf cart on. Some tire treads are better for domestic purposes, such as campgrounds or suburbs, while others help with off-road adventures and utility driving.

Tire patterns range from smooth (no tread) for situations such as green mowers, to straight rib and saw-tooth for terrains like golf, turf, and the street, to knobby use on off-road, mud, sand and other rougher terrains.

Smooth and Straight Ribbed

The smooth tread is used for easy terrains, such as grasses and lawns. They provide great traction on the grass, without making huge marks or flattening the lawn. The tire has a smooth look, with very few ridges to easily glide through the grass.

The straight ribbed and smooth tires are helpful in domestic type settings such as on streets and paths. Typically, the smooth tires work best when on grasses and lawns, while the straight ribbed are beneficial for roads and path terrains.

Saw-Tooth

The most common tread of golf car tires, the saw-tooth tire, provides the most traction, they typically last longer, and do not harm grass. The tire has jagged, tracks from side-to-side to provide a rough texture that works well on multiple terrains.

Saw-tooth tires are useful on terrains such as golf, turf, street or path saw-tooth can also handle dirt or sand better than the smooth or ribbed treads.

Turf

Turf tires are specifically designed for golf courses or football fields. When choosing a golf cart for turf, the best tire to choose is a rounder, shoulder tire. This provides a more balanced and effective tire so as not damage the turf.

When considering buying tires for a golf course or a flatter terrain, rounded, turf tires provide a gradual breakaway from the turf, reducing the wear and tear of the terrain. The flatter profile of the turf tire will affect a slightly larger area, thus preventing rifts and tears.

Sand Tread

Sand tires differ greatly from the typical, normal tread patterns. Generally, sand tires look like they have "paddles," or an indented pattern than the normal tread patterns. The tire is very beneficial for desert terrains or campgrounds with sand pathways.

Other hard and rough terrain conditions react very differently from the sand terrain. Sand has a tendency to move and slide around while driving. Therefore, the paddles are designed to provide maximum traction under these slippery conditions. A typical smooth, straight-ribbed or saw-tooth design will easily slide and potentially cause a crash while driving. Sand treads are the most suitable tires for terrains such as a desert or a beach setting.

Knobby

Knobby tires have multiple tread patterns that provide the ultimate flexibility for multiple different terrains. Most only slightly different in shape based on the side of each knob or lug. The slender difference in a knob shape or a lug is designed to assist in performing effectively in a specific conditions or terrain.

Some knobby tires are specific to the type of terrain (such as mud) while many are accommodating to various terrains and conditions. Many of these specific tires are used for a customized cart in mud or other off-terrain adventures because they can be specialized for the specific type of terrain.

All-Terrain

All-terrain tires are the best to purchase when not necessarily knowing which terrain the golf cart will be used on, or if the golf cart will knowingly be known on multiple terrains. Typically, the tread provides adequate support to handle mild off-road use, while similarly providing not as aggressive as an approach such as on knobby or specific terrains, as mentioned above. They are much more “yard friendly” than the knobby or sand tread, and can be used on grass.

The Tread That Fits You

When considering the golf cart that best fits your needs, the first step is to consider which tread will fit the terrain you will most use the golf cart in. For instance, if the golf cart will mainly be used in residential settings or on campgrounds, the smooth or straight ribbed golf tread tire may be best. Contrastingly, if living in an area where sand is extremely prevalent, such as the desert or a beach, the sand or knobby tires may benefit you best. Finally, if the terrain is undetermined, uncertain, or ever-changing, then the all-terrain tire may work best for those specific needs.