8-Inch Golf Cart Wheels and Tires: Everything You Wanted To Know!

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If you own a golf cart or have used a golf cart at your local golf course, there is an excellent chance you have driven on some eight-inch golf cart wheels and tires.

This size tire is the standard OEM tire for Club Car, EZGO, and Yamaha golf carts and is famous for the classic sawtooth tread pattern.

For many golf cart owners, updating the golf cart wheels and tires means finding a unique style and getting a bigger size, but that's not for everyone!

Many cart owners still like the 8-inch golf cart rims and prefer the classic look. If that is you, we put together this guide to cover all the essential questions, such as the benefits and drawbacks of 8-inch wheels, overall sizing, color options, and what eight-inch golf cart tires are available. Here we go!

Article Highlights Summary

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Benefits of 8-inch Golf Cart Rims

• More stable golf cart
• Smoother golf cart ride
• Golf course approved

Drawbacks of 8-inch Golf Cart Rims

• Minimal ground clearance
• Lack of customization

Overall Sizing and Tread Options

• Overall combo size of 18"-18.5"
• Overview of tire manufacturers (Kenda, Wanda, Excel) and tread options

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Keep reading for more information or if you want to skip the reading and see some wheel and tire combos- click the button below!

Benefits of 8-inch Golf Cart Rims

As with most things, bigger doesn't always mean better; the same is valid for golf cart wheels and tires.

Although changing their wheels and tires to a bigger size can appeal to many customers, there are a few things that may not appeal to some customers.

Here are a few benefits of sticking with 8-inch golf cart rims.

More Stable Golf Cart

With 8-inch golf cart wheels and tires, the overall wheel and tire combo height will be approximately 18"-18.5". 

This overall height is the smallest wheel and tire combo available for golf carts. As a result, this will keep your golf cart's center of gravity close to the ground, which increases your golf cart's overall handling and stability.

A low center of gravity also gives a golf cart that feeling of "hugging" the ground when going over sharp turns or operating at higher speeds.

By contrast, for some cart owners, adding bigger wheels and tires and adding a lift kit can make their cart feel unstable and uneasy- not something they want. If that sounds like you, 8-inch rims and tires may be a great choice.

Smoother Golf Cart Ride

Another benefit to 8-inch golf cart wheels and tires is a smoother and more comfortable ride.

Because 8-inch golf cart wheels have a small diameter, this leaves plenty of room in the overall combo for the tire and air in the tire to provide cushion and protection against bumps and changes in driving terrain.

This extra cushion allows the golf cart to easily navigate over uneven terrain and small obstacles resulting in a more comfortable experience for passengers.

Golf Course Safe

Another great benefit to eight-inch rims and tires for your golf cart is that most of the treads available for that sized wheel are approved for the golf course.

It is not uncommon for some golf cart owners to upgrade their wheel and tire packages without considering where they drive their cart.

When they take it down to their local golf course, their tire tread pattern is too aggressive and can damage the green- not good!

If you regularly hit the links or drive your golf cart over manicured lawns and turf, an 8-inch wheel and tire combo could be your best friend!

Drawbacks of 8-inch golf cart wheels

It is clear that for some golf cart owners, 8-inch wheels can check many boxes of what they are looking for in a golf cart wheel and tire combo.

However, to ensure we get you the most comprehensive information available, we must discuss some of the drawbacks of 8-inch golf cart rims.

Minimal Golf Cart Ground Clearance

One of the most significant disadvantages of 8-inch wheels is that they don't provide your golf cart with much ground clearance.

Although these wheels and tires can give a lot of cushion over uneven terrain, you could run into some issues if you ever venture into proper off-road territory.

You can damage your cart's underside if you drive your golf cart on your property or through some trails in the woods, which have roots, rocks, and other hazards.

Unfortunately, 8-inch wheels won't do much to help you be able to clear those hazards. If you enjoy taking your golf cart on off-road adventures or want to ensure you don't get snagged on debris, consider purchasing a larger wheel and tire combo.

Lack Of Customization

Another drawback to 8-inch rims is that there is little available regarding colors and styles for you to choose from.

The standard eight-inch wheels for golf carts are only available in two colors- black and white.

If you have a unique cart and are looking for a wheel to compliment your cart's colors or overall look, 8-inch rims won't offer much. In addition, there are fewer different tire treads that you can purchase with 8-inch wheels.

Although 8-inch tire options have expanded over the years, there still is less available than there is for larger golf cart wheels. Again, if you want something specific or a unique tread, 8-inch tires come up short.

Overall Sizing and Tread Options

The overall size of 8-inch golf cart wheels and tires is 18"-18.5". Unfortunately, only a few 8-inch golf cart wheels and tires available today will exceed that size. If you are looking for something a bit bigger, 10" wheels may suit you well. To learn more, check out our article discussing 10" golf cart wheels.

8-inch Golf Cart Tire Tread Options

Although there are fewer tire tread options available for 8-inch rims than for other golf cart wheels, both street/turf tires and off-road tires are still available. Let's take a look at some of the most popular 8-inch golf cart tire manufacturers and their different tread options:

Kenda Golf Cart Tires

• Street/Turf Tires
• Kenda Hole-N-1: This is the classic golf cart tire with the iconic sawtooth tread and can be found on golf courses all across the US!

• Kenda KTW Golf: Almost identical to the Hole-N-1, these tires are Kenda's economy tires.

• Kenda Loadstar (K399): Designed primarily for street use, the Loadstar is similar in construction to the Hole-N-1 but boasts a slightly more streamlined tread design.

• Off-Road/All-Terrain
• Kenda K500 Super Turf: Boasting a tread similar to most zero-turn lawnmowers, the K500 has increased grip and traction for more flexible driving terrain.

• Kenda Scorpion (K290): Kenda's more aggressive tread for 8-inch wheels, the Scorpion tread has distinct knobs that are spread wide across the tire for maximum grip.

Wanda Golf Cart Tires

• All-Terrain
• Wanda WDT Turf: Similar to the K500 super turf, the Wanda WDT Turf tires have an all-purpose tread with enhanced grip but won't damage most lawns and grass surfaces.

 

• Wanda Knobby All-Terrain: The tread design of Wanda's aggressive all-terrain tire boasts rubber blocks that move perpendicular across the tire for maximum gripping action.

Excel Golf Cart Tires

• Off-Road/All-Terrain
• Excel Sahara Classic: Available in 8", 10", 12", and 14", the Excel Sahara Classic is a true off-road directional tire with large tread blocks and directional siphoning.

Well, that wraps up your foray into 8-inch golf cart wheels and tires! If you still have questions, drop them in the comments below, or feel free to contact us. Or if that has whetted your appetite, you can also peruse our complete collection of wheels and tires!

Want more top-notch info on golf cart wheels? Check out our post on how to understand golf cart wheel sizes!