14 Inch Golf Cart Wheels and Tires: A Guide

Author: Christian Attlesey

14" wheels are extremely popular among golf cart owners and for good reasons.

A 14" wheel on your golf cart will provide you with a slightly larger wheel and tire diameter than the standard golf cart wheel which may not only slightly increase your golf cart's speed but can also give your golf cart a more well-rounded look.

If you are thinking about purchasing a set of 14" wheels there are some important pieces of information you need to know such as the benefits of 14" golf cart wheels, whether you need a lift kit, as well as what tire treads are available for purchase.

This article is going to cover all of that and more so let's get started!

14in Golf Cart Wheel Benefits

Any time you purchase new wheels and tires for your golf cart, it is imperative that you think through what you are hoping to gain from that purchase.

For example, are you looking to spruce up the look of your cart? Or are you hoping to gain a significant jump in golf cart performance?

These essential questions should drive what wheel and tire combo you choose for your cart. Thankfully, with 14" wheels and tires, you can get the best of both worlds! Let's explore some benefits of 14" golf cart wheels and tires below.

Potential Speed Increase

One of the most common questions regarding golf cart wheels and tires is whether adding bigger tires will increase your golf cart's speed.

The good news is that by adding larger wheels and tires to your golf cart, you should see a slight increase in your golf cart's top speed, and 14" wheels fit that bill.

Greater Visual Appeal

Another benefit you get with 14" golf cart wheels and tires is a more well-rounded-looking golf cart.

Standard golf cart wheels and tires have an overall diameter of approximately 18"-18.5".

Although this works well in specific applications such as golf courses and utility carts, for golf cart owners who view their golf carts as more personal transport vehicles or are looking to get them certified as low-speed vehicles, larger wheels and tires that better fill out their wheel well and fit the overall style of their cart can play a huge role.

In addition, due to the size of 14-inch wheels, they will draw more "attention" to the complete combo and keep the tires more in the background. Because, let's face it, no one likes looking at tires.

Increased Ground Clearance

An often overlooked benefit of 14" golf cart wheels is that by adding this larger diameter wheel (compared to standard 8", 10", or 12" wheels), you will often gain a few valuable inches in ground clearance.

This additional clearance can be vital if you take your golf cart off-roading or are worried about the underside of your cart getting scratched or damaged.

A 14" wheel paired with large off-road tires and a lift kit will provide you with the best in ground clearance and off-road capabilities.

Pro-Tip: One thing to remember is that increasing your golf cart's total height can sometimes cause you to lose some feeling of "stability."

Some golf cart owners like keeping their cart's center of gravity low to the ground and having the sense of "hugging" the road.

If that is something you value, consider going for a smaller wheel and tire combo. For more information, check out our 12" golf cart wheel guide.

Do You Need A Lift Kit With 14" Golf Cart Wheels?

For a lot of golf cart owners, it is safe to assume that by purchasing a 14" golf cart wheel, you will need to have a lift kit installed.

The smallest 14" golf cart wheel and tire combo you can buy will have an overall diameter of 20" and for people that own a Club Car or Yamaha G-Series golf cart (G1-G22 models), that means you will need to have a 3" lift kit installed.

However, if you own an EZGO golf cart or a Yamaha Drive (G29) or Drive 2, you can install a 20" combo without needing a lift kit.

Keep in mind that for these carts, you will want to ensure that your leaf springs/suspension is in good shape to prevent your tires from rubbing when going over bumps or adding any additional weight to your golf cart. Use the diagram below for reference.

14in Golf Cart Tire Tread Styles

14" Street/Low Profile Golf Cart Tires

You get a truly standout product when you purchase 14" wheels with low profile or street tires.

This combination does a great job showing off more of your wheel and less of your tire. For some customers, this is precisely what they want as it highlights the beauty and "glam" that the wheel provides their cart.

The downside to this type of combination is that with less tire on your wheel, you get less rubber and air to provide cushion for your ride.

The smaller tire lessens the air pocket surrounding your wheel; therefore, you can often feel more of the bumps, cracks, and other changes in the driving surface.

Because of this, most customers who purchase these wheel and tire combinations often drive on roads, golf courses, or well-maintained paths. See above for an example of a street/low-profile wheel and tire combo.Here are some other popular golf cart tire manufacturers and 14" tire treads:

Arisun 14" Street/Turf Golf Cart Tires

• Cruze Tire: The Arisun Cruze is an extremely popular aftermarket golf cart tire. With tread designed to grip the pavement or the greens, the Cruze tire is great for neighborhood and golf course driving.

14" Off-Road Golf Cart Tires

A 14" wheel with off-road tires provides you with one of the largest and most aggressive combinations you can have on your golf cart.

These combinations usually reach 22 or 23 inches in overall height, which just about maxes out what most lifted golf carts can handle.

With the large wheel and oversized tires, you get a substantial grip and more cushioning to guide your cart over the most challenging terrain.

Even with a large 14" wheel, the deep treads and thick rubber on the off-road tires will give you plenty of cushion so that riding over sticks, rocks, cracks, and bumps won't be easily felt.

These wheels and tires work well on carts that drive around farms, through the woods, trails, or other poorly maintained surfaces.

However, we don't recommend these for street use as they can "hum" and make noise when reaching high speeds on concrete or pavement. If that doesn't bother you, you can take these wherever you want! Here are some popular off-road golf cart tires.

Arisun 14" Off-Road Golf Cart Tires

• X-Trail Tire: The Arisun X-trail has extremely large tread blocks that move down the center of the tire as well as the sidewall for maximum gripping action.

Excel 14" Off-Road Golf Cart Tires

• Sahara Classic Tire: The Excel Sahara Classic golf cart tire is a directional tire meant to be used in extreme terrain. The large inner tread blocks move in a zig-zag pattern across the tire while the outer tread blocks provide easy escape routes for water, mud, and debris. 

14" All-Terrain Golf Cart Tires

These tires are very similar to off-road tires, so much of the above paragraph will apply to these as well.

The main difference between the tire tread on all-terrain tires versus off-road, however, is that all-terrain tires have a tread pattern that is more closely grouped and goes in the direction of the rotation of the tire.

This type of tread cuts down on the "noise" that can occur when driving on hard surfaces. As a result, you have slightly more flexibility in where you drive your golf cart with these tires as they can handle pavement driving, and aren't as damaging to lawns or other surfaces, all while still being suitable for off-road use.  See above for an example of an all-terrain golf cart wheel and tire combo.

Arisun 14" All-Terrain Golf Cart Tires

• Lightning Tire: The Arisun Lightning tire has a unique and slightly large tread pattern that moves in the direction of the tire. This allows the tire to still have enhanced grip while at the same time being acceptable for street use.

Closing Thoughts

Well if you have made it this far, we can tell that you are serious about making the right choice with your golf cart wheels and tires. If you still have questions about 14" golf cart wheels and tires (or any tires for that matter) don't hesitate to reach out or throw your questions in the comments below!

Looking to purchase 14in golf cart wheels and tires? Check out our collection!

Christian Attlesey is the Marketing Manager here at Golf Cart Stuff™, and, in addition to the marketing department, he oversees our website and advertising responsibilities.

...You probably know him as the humorous & relatable host of our YouTube channel!

Prior to taking on marketing, however, Christian honed his industry knowledge as our Customer Service Manager. Fast-forward to present day: it’s his mission to deliver the best and most current products, resources, and overall expertise to Golf Cart owners everywhere.

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Email: sales@golfcartstuff.com

Phone: 574-333-2494

Text: 574-612-5195

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