Golf Cart Street Tires- What You Need To Know (With Infographic)
June 01, 2022Perhaps you have been thinking about purchasing new wheels and tires for your golf cart. After looking at all the golf cart wheels and the various tire options, you like the styles that are referred to as "Street," "Turf," or "Low Profile."
If you have questions about these types of golf cart tires, this article will explain what style those terms refer to, explain the benefits these tires provide, and show you some options for purchase.
By the time you finish reading, you should understand all the pros and cons of street wheels and tires for your golf cart so you can make better purchasing decisions. Let's dive right in!
Who Should Buy Street Tires For Their Golf Cart?
As the titles would imply, street and low-profile golf cart tires are designed to be used on non-aggressive surfaces such as pavement, grass, thin layers of loose gravel, etc.
These wheel and tire combos are for cart owners who mainly stick to using their golf carts on streets, walkways, well-maintained paths, and the golf course.
The tread pattern on these wheels and tires is designed to grip those surfaces without damaging the tire's driving surface or the tire.
Pro-Tip: Low-profile tires get their name due to the tire sidewall height. These tires are designed to have a minimal side profile width when compared to the overall size of the wheel and tire combo. Low-profile golf cart tires are available in multiple different wheel sizes.
People prefer low-profile tires because they direct people's eyes to see more of the wheel, typically the more aesthetically pleasing part of the golf cart wheel and tire combination, and less of the tire.
Street and low-profile tires will have similar tread styles; they will only differ in sidewall height.
Please note that low-profile tires will typically not provide as smooth of a ride as regular street tires. This is due to less rubber and air to cushion bumps and rough surfaces.
Main Takeaway- Street and low-profile wheels and tires are best for the cart owner who drives on the street, concrete paths, well-maintained gravel paths, and the golf course.
Are you in the market for some new tires? If so, we've got you covered with our top-rated golf cart tires .
Benefits Of Golf Cart Street and Low-Profile Tires
Better Traction and Ride Quality On Pavement
When it comes to driving on pavement, street or low-profile tires are the way to go.
They have a tighter tread pattern than off-road tires, which helps grip the road surface and provides a smoother, quieter drive for your golf cart
In addition, street tires are designed to withstand the rigors of paved surfaces, so they will last longer and experience minor wear and tear.
Like standard automotive tires, street golf cart tires are made specifically for concrete surfaces and will provide better overall handling and ride quality.
Golf Course Flexibility
Another benefit to street and low-profile golf cart wheels and tires is that these provide you with the greatest flexibility if you plan to take your golf cart on the golf course.
The tread pattern on these tires will allow your cart to be driven on golf course fairways and greens without causing any damage to the surfaces or tearing up the grass.
Most golf courses will not permit you to use your personal golf cart if you have an aggressive tread pattern. These tires are a must-have if you live in a golf course community!
More Stock Golf Cart Tire Options
Perhaps the most significant benefit of street tires is the many options you have for purchasing without needing a lift kit.
Off-road and all-terrain golf cart tires are great for their purpose, but due to the size of the tire and the thickness of the tread, you will often be required to purchase a lift kit when getting those installed.
On the other hand, a street golf cart tire will typically stay within the 18"-20" overall height range, meaning you have plenty of options to choose from.
This makes installing a new set of wheels and tires on your golf cart quick and painless as all you have to do is remove your old wheels and tires and put the new ones on. For more information, check out the chart and video below.
Main Takeaway: Street/Low-Profile tires are manufactured to provide a great riding experience on street and golf course applications.
Due to the overall size of most street wheel and tire combinations, there are plenty of options for cart owners who don't want to install a lift kit.
Golf Cart Street Tire Tread Options
When it comes to tread options, most street tires are going to have very similar treads with some minor differences in pattern styles. In addition to slight differences in the pattern, these tires will also have minor variations in both tread depth and width.
Once again, all of these treads are designed for road use and will be safe to use on golf course fairways and greens.
The common theme with all these tire treads is that the tread spacing will be tightly grouped allowing for a quiet and smooth ride on pavement but still allowing for debris and water to escape from the tire. Here are some of the most popular tire treads:
Looking for a more in-depth comparison of various golf cart street and turf tire treads? Check out our Street/Turf Tire Comparison article!
- GCS™ Forerunner
- Arisun Cruze
- Excel Endura
- Deli Street/Turf
- Wanda GFX
- Excel Street Fox Radial
Hopefully, by now you have a greater understanding of the benefits of street and low-profile golf cart tires.
You should also know what applications these golf cart wheels and tires are best for along with an idea of some of the options you have when purchasing.
If you have any further questions, put them in the comments below and we will be in touch!
Bonus Question 1- Can I Put Street Tires On A Lifted Golf Cart?
Yes, if you are wanting street golf cart tires but your cart has a lift kit installed you still have a wide selection of wheel and tire combinations to choose from.
Depending on what wheel size you are looking for and whether you want a low-profile tire or not, you can get street tires on combos ranging from 18"-23" in overall height. Just be sure you select the correct size for your model cart and lift kit.
We have plenty of options when it comes to pre-mounted golf cart wheels and tires . Whether you want to cruise with street tires, or explore with some all-terrain tread, we have what you need!
Bonus Question 2- I Have Street Tires On My Golf Cart, Can I Still Take It Off-Road?
Of course! Just because you have tires on your golf cart that are designed for pavement, doesn't mean you can't take your cart off the beaten path!
However, we highly suggest you think through the terrain you will be traveling on before you start hitting the trails. Street tires won't provide good traction in more extreme circumstances (mud? just forget about it!) and depending on how many hazards you come across- you may end up scratching or damaging your wheels.
If you want street tires but plan on taking your golf cart on some trails or through your yard quite often, we suggest a smaller wheel size with a larger golf cart tire. This will provide you with most amount of cushion and protection for your cart (see above for the difference between "low-profile" and "regular" street tires.
We hope this article was helpful for you and provided you with just the information you were looking for! If not, drop your question in the comment section below and we would be glad to get back to you. Want to do some more reading, check out our post where we bust some of the most common golf cart tire falsehoods !