Golf carts have a lot of versatility and untapped potential! While these vehicles are already popular for their affordability, few owners realize how many different uses a golf cart has. While golf carts were originally meant for driving on the soft green of a golf course, changing the tires and tread will let you take your cart anywhere. Read our guide on golf cart tires to learn which tire type will be best for you. 

Why Buy New Tires?

Before explaining customization and the different utilizations of your golf cart, let's ask an important question: Why change the tires at all? If you’re riding on city streets, or smaller golf courses without varying terrain, this is likely the question at the forefront of your mind. The answer is pretty simple; any golf cart tire on the market today is going to be 10 times better than the stock tires your vehicle came with. If you want stronger tires that will last longer and won’t go flat as quickly, we advise purchasing new ones. 

Golf Cart Utilization 

Changing your tires is an easy way to customize your cart to travel absolutely anywhere. Live near the beach? Directional paddle tires will let your cart speed across sand dunes in ways your old tires never could. Large tires with heavy tread, typically called all terrain tires, will let your cart zip through the woods or muddy areas with ease. This often requires lifting your vehicle a few inches and is especially helpful for those with heavy equipment to carry—as golf carts often have a high weight capacity and storage space. Even if you’re just driving around a golf course, investing in soft-terf all-terrain tires will let you pass through sand traps and muddy areas much more easily. 

Tire Sizing and Placement

Golf cart tire dimensions can be a bit confusing. Generally, the stock tires on your vehicle should measure 18 inches tall with an 8-8.5 width. This is written as a 205/50-10 tire, with 205 referring to the tire's width in millimeters and the 10 referring to its diameter. The 50 represents the ratio of your tires width to its sidewall. This is done simply by dividing the tire's width by the length of its sidewall. Thankfully, if you’re not interested in doing the necessary math, there are a number of charts translating these dimensions into inches. The average golf cart tire can range from 17 to 20 inches, but there are a variety of sizes available for the enthusiasts who want a specialized style. If you’re buying a tire with directional tread, such as paddle tires, it’s important to attach them facing the correct way. Pay close attention to the tread as you secure the tire, or have a professional do the job. If these types of tires are placed incorrectly they won’t function as intended. 

We hope that this guide has been helpful in explaining why new golf cart tires are a good investment, and which type might be beneficial to you. We understand that this is a pretty broad topic and there’s quite a bit of information to digest. If you still have questions feel free to stop by our dealership in Garner, North Carolina. Our knowledgeable staff should be able to answer any of your questions regarding your golf cart and its various equipment. We proudly serve the cities of Raleigh, Clayton, and Cary, North Carolina, and we look forward to seeing you soon!