Why Good Tires on Your Golf Cart Are Important

Your golf cart is a vehicle just like your car is, and it, too, needs to be properly cared for. You would never skimp on buying good tires for your car, because you know there could be dire consequences. While you may not reach top speeds in a cart, it can still be dangerous to drive your cart around with bad tires. They are vital to maneuvering through different terrain, and if they are in poor condition you could find yourself head on with a tree, or nose-diving into a water hazard. Don’t be fooled by their granny-like pace; make sure you properly check, and replace your golf cart tires as often as needed.

The Low-Down on Golf Cart Tires Tread and Size

Different types of terrain require different tires, so be sure you choose the right tread and size to accommodate your cart’s specific activities. Do you intend to use your cart for navigating the course, cruising the neighborhood, off-roading, or a little of everything? The type of tread and size of the tire depends on the answer to this question. If you are just planning on sticking to the course and paved pathways, your stock tires should suffice, as most golf carts come equipped with tires that won’t ruin the grass when going from hole to hole.

If you intend to use your cart for more off-roading purposes, you’ll need tires that are reminiscent of the ones you’d find on an ATV. Their tread pattern is typically more pronounced, so they can easily ride through sand, mud, and wooded areas. With that said, they are not recommended for the street as the tread pattern will make the ride quite bumpy.

For those of you who want the best of both worlds, all terrain tires are the best choice for you. They have a more pronounced tread pattern than that of the traditional golf cart tire, but not so much that it will ruin the course. This allows you to drive your cart on almost any surface with ease.

Typically, golf cart original tires are 18 X 8.50-8, which simply means the outside diameter is 18-inches, with a width of 8.5-inches, and the tire accommodates an 8-inch wheel. In general, this will be how golf cart tires are listed on standard carts. It’s the smallest tire you’ll typically find on golf carts. With that said, there are larger sizes available in various treads; go too large, though, and you’ll need a lift kit or low-profile tires in order to use the larger wheels and tires on your cart.

The Right Tires for the Activity

If skidding down a wet grassy hillside and tipping into a water hazard has no appeal for you, you’ll want to make sure you’ve replaced worn tires with good quality turf tires. They’re designed specifically for golf courses, so the shallow spacing on the tread won’t tear up the fairway but will still offer necessary traction to keep you and your expensive clubs out of trouble.Duro Turf tires are a solid choice with 23 X 10.5-12 dimensions; they’ll fit most standard 12” golf cart wheels.

Street tires and turf tires are pretty interchangeable. They’re both meant for driving on paved or cement paths and roads, so DOT approved street tread patterns are versatile enough to use on the course or on the street. Any of the Madjax Cobra or Viper series street tires, or the Duro Turf, Sawtooth, or Touring tires would be good choices for street tires that also meet strict golf course standards.

If you’re into low profile tires, the street is the place to use them. You’ll find yourself at the chiropractor if you’re using them in other scenarios; there are just far too many bone-jarring moments on off-road surfaces for these.

One of the more common complaints among golf cart owners who use their carts on the beach or crisscrossing dunes is sinking in the sand. After you’ve determined your tires are in good condition, the first thing to try is to change the pressure to a 4 to 5 psi. It spreads out the surface of your tire on the sand to help it float over the top better. If you’re still experiencing sinking, it may be better to get all-terrain tires with bars across the flat tire surface for better traction in loose terrain. Duro Desert 23 X 10-14 golf cart tires give you less drag and allow the cart to move faster.

Off-road tires for your golf cart look and function similarly to ATV tires. They have pronounced knobby tread patterns that make it easier to navigate muddy paths, rocky surfaces, and bumpy wooded areas. They’re designed specifically for off-road activities like hunting and trail riding. They’re often used in combination with lift kits. Madjax Raptor mud tires, or Duro or Rhox knobby tires, or Duro Tiller tiresare excellent off-road tire choices.

All three tire companies offer all-terrain tires if you just can’t box your golf cart in to a single use.