Golf Cart Tire Sizes
Understanding how to read the different sizes of golf cart tires will help you determine which tires would be best for your particular cart. It will also help you understand what sizes would be appropriate if you installed a golf cart lift kit or modified your cart in other ways. Most times it will be easier and cheaper to order golf cart tires on-line, so knowing what tires fit best will save a lot of time and hassle.
The standard tire size (without lift kits or other modifications) is usually “18×8.5-8”. This information will likely be found on the side of the tire.
What these numbers represent:
- 18 – The diameter of the tire.
- 8.5 – The width of the tire.
- 8 – The diameter of the rim.
NOTE: Depending on whether you have 2-ply, 4-ply, or 6-ply golf cart tires, this may alter the overall diameter of a tire because of the thickness of the rubber. When adding air into a 2-ply tire, the tire may be more prone to expansion because the rubber is more pliable.
Whether you are changing your tires or buying new ones make sure that the diameter of the wheel and the diameter of the tire rim are the same. In this example, the tire rim is 8″, so that means that it will fit onto an 8″ wheel.
Golf Cart Tires: 2-Ply, 4-Ply or 6-Ply?
The ply of a tire usually comes in 2-ply, 4-ply, and 6-ply, and represents the thickness of the rubber.
A 6-ply golf cart tire will normally last the longest and is more puncture resistant. Most standard golf cart tires used on golf courses are 2-ply or 4-ply, but there are certainly 6-ply tires that are golf course approved as well.
Golf Cart Tire Tread
The standard tread on golf cart tires is referred to as “sawtooth” and is an approved tread for golf courses nationwide. This type of tread is smooth rolling on hard surfaces and offers normal golf cart traction.
There are many different types of treads that are specific to what the golf cart is being used for. Some examples include off-roading (light to extreme), city street driving, and grassy / muddy environments, such as farmland.
Treads come as either directional or non-directional.
Directional treads are designed to channel debris away from the cart. For instance, if you are using your golf cart on grassy and muddy landscapes, then a directional tread will help to keep your golf cart a little cleaner.
Non-directional tread does not channel debris away from the cart. Sawtooth treads are non-directional because they are typically designed for use on a golf course.
How you plan to use your golf cart will determine the type of tread that will be necessary for your tires.