Just because the cold weather limits your time on the golf course, you don’t need to put your golf cart in storage all winter. Golf carts are great vehicles for small trips around town, and can even be driven on the road if they have been properly outfitted with road safety features.

One of the most important features you should install on your golf cart for the winter is that of winter tires. Tires are the point of connection between you and the road, which means that the appropriate tire selection and maintenance are essential if you want to drive your golf cart throughout the winter.

Why You Need Winter Tires

During the colder months, moving around the course becomes more difficult due to icy conditions, snow, and mud. As many carts are powered by batteries, the lack of traction can put an increased load on the battery, causing it to run down faster, and increase the wear and tear on the motor.

Even gas-powered carts find it difficult to navigate the golf course during poor weather. Many courses only allow carts with lower powered engines that travel at low speeds, which makes it difficult to build up the momentum needed to scale steep, slippery surfaces.

The cold weather can affect the pressure and performance of street cart tires as well, and damage the longevity of the tires, which means you will need to replace them more often.

Winter tires are specifically designed for better grip and traction, ensuring you are never stranded in the middle of the street or golf course.

Features of Winter Tires

Winter tires have different features than regular tires, making them safer and more effective in the cold weather. During the colder weather, especially in areas with high snowfall, the driving surface becomes slippery, causing your cart to lose traction. Winter tires have a wider width and deeper tread to grip more closely to the road. This keeps your cart moving forward and takes some strain off the battery. It also prevents slippage and loss of control, helping you to avoid road accidents or injuries on the golf course.

Another feature of winter tires is a thicker tire wall which allows the tire to “give” more. This “give” means the surface area of the tire will be in contact with the driving surface, providing better grip. A thicker tire wall also means a smoother ride over rough terrain, making it more comfortable for you and your passengers.

Selecting Winter Tires for Your Cart

While winter golf cart tires have some similar features to winter tires for cars, their function is slightly different. Standard winter tires for cars are designed for cold weather conditions on sealed roads, while winter golf cart tires must transition easily from sealed surfaces to off-road conditions, which is why selecting the right tire tread is a good idea.

Knobby tires come in a variety of different tread patterns, each specific to a different terrain. While they are generally designed for off-road use only, if you live in an area with high rainfall during the colder months, it may be worth purchasing a set of knobby tires.

Be aware that their efficiency in the snow depends on the terrain underneath the snow. If the terrain is soft, or loose, like mud, the knobby tread is not going to work. However, the knobby tread will work well on asphalt or pavement.

All-terrain tires are essentially a happy medium between standard golf cart tires and knobby off-road tires. Standard golf cart tires with saw-tooth, turf, or ribbed tread are gentle on the golf course surface but unsuitable for cold weather grip. Knobby tires designed for off-road carts have good grip, but they will tear up the course. The tread on all-terrain tires is generally directional, allowing for better grip on slippery surfaces.

Snow tires are the obvious choice for people living in areas with high snowfall. They, too, are directional but often come with additional features like paddles or knobs to assist with traction.

Summary

Winter tires are a great feature that allows you to utilize your cart year around. They are safer and more effective in cold weather than standard tires. In addition, they keep your cart’s motor from suffering too much damage from straining the battery.

Ensure you choose the right tire for your cart and the terrain on which you plan to drive it. To make the most of your winter tires, it is important they are properly fitted and maintained before venturing out in the cold weather.