Under Pressure: How to Care for Golf Cart Tires

Tire maintenance is critical for the passenger car or truck you drive every day, and the same thing is true for the tires on your golf cart.

The most important thing you can do is maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Properly inflated tires will ensure optimum handling and provide a better ride. Check the pressure in each tire once a week. Inflate low tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, which you will find in the owner’s manual. These tires typically use anywhere from 15 to 25 pounds per square inch (PSI), with the average being 20 to 22 PSI.

For golf carts driven off-road or on rougher terrain, it’s not uncommon to under-inflate tires to gain additional traction. However, under-inflated tires wear down prematurely. If you intentionally drive your golf cart with low tire pressure, check the treads and sidewalls regularly for uneven wear.

Over-inflated tires have too much pressure and will create a stiffer ride. The middle of your tires wear faster, and the cart has less traction because not enough tread makes contact with the ground.

Striking a curb or hitting a hole can send the wheels out of alignment. Occasionally check for uneven tire wear, which may indicate an alignment problem. Whenever you notice your tires wearing unevenly, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a reputable service facility like National Carts to diagnose and repair the problem.