Doug Adair, ConversionsbyDoug@gmail.com
Want your golf cart to run smoother and travel further on one charge? Then check the condition of your golf cart tires and tire pressure ideally once a month, but at least three to four times a year. Golf cart tires often appear fully inflated even when significantly low on air, due to their thick sidewalls and rounded shape. Therefore, most people don’t realize their tire pressure is low, but proper inflation is essential for speed, efficiency, and long–term maintenance.
Industry guides confirm that maintaining correct tire pressure reduces rolling resistance, allowing the cart to move more easily and improving both speed and handling. Under inflated tires force electric carts to draw more power from their batteries and cause gas powered carts to burn additional fuel, reducing the distance a cart can travel on a single charge or gallon of gas. Over time, this added strain can also shorten battery and motor life.
Most golf cart tires are designed to operate between 15 and 25 pounds per square inch (PSI), depending on the model and manufacturer recommendations. If you don’t have your cart’s manufacturer guidelines (usually found on the tire sidewall or in the cart manual), 25 to 28 PSI is recommended. Visual inspection alone is unreliable, making a handheld tire gauge the only accurate way to confirm pressure levels. Temperature swings—common throughout the year—can also cause pressure to drop unexpectedly, reinforcing the need for monthly checks. You can purchase a tire inflator/portable air compressor such as found at this link: tinyurl.com/PCTireCheck (this is an example only; no compensation is received for suggesting this model).
Regular tire pressure maintenance not only boosts performance but also prevents uneven wear, flats, and premature tire replacement. For golf cart owners, this simple routine can lead to smoother rides, longer battery life, and lower long term operating costs.
Reminder from PCHOA: Golf Cart Specifications Policy states golf carts used on PC golf courses must have a tire tread greater than 8″ and less than 12″ in width. The tread of the tire must be designed for use on turf-like conditions. No knobby or specialty off road type tires.