bigger tires

[village dreamer]

I have a ele club car ,with 8 inche tires it will do 19 .2 mph............soooo if I put on 10 inche tires will I go 22-23 mph??? I know someone has done this. thanks:gc::gc::gc:

[OldManTime]

about 2 mph faster

[billethkid]

That means at 60 miles per hour you could be two miles further.

The math would suggest saving your money!

[GolfCart]

I have a ele club car ,with 8 inche tires it will do 19 .2 mph............soooo if I put on 10 inche tires will I go 22-23 mph??? I know someone has done this. thanks

First off the inside hole means nothing
here is a speed calculator that will answer your question
SPEED CALCULATOR (http://gaminde.net/clubcar/speed_calc.html)

[Bobs GolfCart Speedometer]

I have a ele club car ,with 8 inche tires it will do 19 .2 mph............soooo if I put on 10 inche tires will I go 22-23 mph??? I know someone has done this. thanks:gc::gc::gc:

I've installed over 600 speedometers on carts here in the Villages and have observed the following:
If you switch to 205 65-10 tires you will increase your speed by approximately 2.5 mph. If you buy 205 50-10 tires you will not see any speed increase.

[123Cookie]

I have a ele club car ,with 8 inche tires it will do 19 .2 mph............soooo if I put on 10 inche tires will I go 22-23 mph??? I know someone has done this. thanks:gc::gc::gc:

your speed on your speedometer is based on rotation of tire - when you change the size of the tire - the speed on the speedometer changes - NOT the speed of the cart - you are not going any faster - just your speedometer is no longer accurate!

[RickeyD]

your speed on your speedometer is based on rotation of tire - when you change the size of the tire - the speed on the speedometer changes - NOT the speed of the cart - you are not going any faster - just your speedometer is no longer accurate!


The mph speed will increase because the effective distance covered will be greater at the same engine RPM than as a smaller diameter tire.

[Marathon Man]

The speed of the tire rotation is determined by engine RPM. That would not change by increasing tire/wheel size. However, the actual speed of the cart will increase. Thereby making the speedometer give you a false low reading. Still reads 20mph, but now traveling 22mph.

This was an important thing to remember when we all put larger tires on our cars back in the 70's. You might get a speeding ticket because you are going faster than you think.

[Marathon Man]

/////

[Bobs GolfCart Speedometer]

The speed of the tire rotation is determined by engine RPM. That would not change by increasing tire/wheel size. However, the actual speed of the cart will increase. Thereby making the speedometer give you a false low reading. Still reads 20mph, but now traveling 22mph.

This was an important thing to remember when we all put larger tires on our cars back in the 70's. You might get a speeding ticket because you are going faster than you think.

Yes, the speedometer must be re-calibrated to the larger tire size otherwise it will not display your true speed. This is easy to do on all digital speedometers. Determine the circumference of the larger tires and enter the value into the tire size section of the speedometer.

[RickeyD]

The speed of the tire rotation is determined by engine RPM. That would not change by increasing tire/wheel size. However, the actual speed of the cart will increase. Thereby making the speedometer give you a false low reading. Still reads 20mph, but now traveling 22mph.

This was an important thing to remember when we all put larger tires on our cars back in the 70's. You might get a speeding ticket because you are going faster than you think.


Actually, the rotational speed of the tire will increase with a larger tire given the same RPM as the smaller tire. Your 70's car showed a false mph because the speedo gear was driven off the tranny.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

If you have a smart phone you can check your cart speedometer with your phone's GPS speedometer to see how accurate it is. Yes there is an free APP for a GPS speedometer.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

That means at 60 miles per hour you could be two miles further.

The math would suggest saving your money!

In my world, going from 20 mph to 22 mph also means two mile farther.

[Chi-Town]

My house came with a Par Car with 8 inch tires. Top speed was 17.5 with no way to make it faster until I put 10 inch tires on the back. Picked up 2 mph. Ciearance kept me from changing the front tires to 10 inch, but it rides just fine the way it is. Found matching hubcaps for both sizes.

[mtdjed]

If the tire RPM stays the same, then wouldn't actual speed change be a function Pi *D.

3.14* 10/3.14* 8 ?

[Rapscallion St Croix]

If the tire RPM stays the same, then wouldn't actual speed change be a function Pi *D.

3.14* 10/3.14* 8 ?

No. The ten and eight are wheel diameters not tire diameters.

[RickeyD]

Geez, the mph or distance traveled in a given amount of time is a function of the tire circumference and RPM. Hence a larger tire will travel a greater distance then a smaller one at the same RPM.

[RickeyD]

I've installed over 600 speedometers on carts here in the Villages and have observed the following:

If you switch to 205 65-10 tires you will increase your speed by approximately 2.5 mph. If you buy 205 50-10 tires you will not see any speed increase.


Your screwing this guy up by not explaining the aspect ratio difference. A 65 aspect ratio will have a larger overall diameter then a 50 aspect ratio. That's why the 65 travels faster.

[ajbrown]

I suspect you have all the information you need by now :)

If you want another option, consider leaving the standard tires and spending about $225 on a Plumquick Bandit rebuild or new Plumquick motor ($325).

High Speed & Performance Electric Golf Cart Motors & Motor Controllers - Plum Quick Motors (http://www.plumquick.com/)

Understand with that motor, you are now not a legal golf cart (by definition) since you can exceed 20 MPH, so you have to understand and accept all of the consequences. It is not my intent to preach, just make you aware. FYI, you will not be the only one out there who can go 23 MPH.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Your screwing this guy up by not explaining the aspect ratio difference. A 65 aspect ratio will have a larger overall diameter then a 50 aspect ratio. That's why the 65 travels faster.

Assuming the tires are the same width.

[rhood]

your speed on your speedometer is based on rotation of tire - when you change the size of the tire - the speed on the speedometer changes - NOT the speed of the cart - you are not going any faster - just your speedometer is no longer accurate!

Ya think ?

[Frank7]

Bobs Golf Cart Speeometers is exactly correct. Changing tires and wheels too 205-65-10
On a Club Car will result in a speed increase of 2.5 MPH.
Speedometers are calibrated in MM of the circumference of a wheel and tire will spin at the max that the carts controller will allow, the increase of rubber on the road with the larger assembly will result in the additional 2.5 MPH.

[village dreamer]

thanks frank

[Topspinmo]

Assuming the tires are the same width.

Width has nothing to do with it. It's the difference in height. Only thing width does is more traction and maybe more torque to turn/spin it. Which with more height on tire the torque going up hill will be less due to the length the tall tire will travel with one rotation. tHis can be measured by marking line on the tire rotate it one revolution and measuring, do the same with the smaller tire. This is the difference in final ratio between the two different height tires.

So the speed cart gains on straight and level may be countered when you climb hills with slower speed and more load on the batteries?

On gas carts the governor will kick in and speed the cart up to almost governed speed within few ten thousands.

[RickeyD]

Width has nothing to do with it. It's the difference in height. Only thing width does is more traction and maybe more torque to turn/spin it. Which with more height on tire the torque going up hill will be less due to the length the tall tire will travel with one rotation. tHis can be measured by marking line on the tire rotate it one revolution and measuring, do the same with the smaller tire. This is the difference in final ratio between the two different height tires.

So the speed cart gains on straight and level may be countered when you climb hills with slower speed and more load on the batteries?

On gas carts the governor will kick in and speed the cart up to almost governed speed within few ten thousands.

Dude, don't bother. Not too many gear heads living here, they will never understand.

[Topspinmo]

Dude, don't bother. Not too many gear heads living here, they will never understand.

When I rented couple years ago a star cart was finished. It ran right at 20 MPH. I noticed high low switch on the dash which I thought was for headlights? Wrong! It was like over drive or another gear. The cart took off from 20 mph up to at least 30 mph. No this wasn't LSV. I guess star had some wiring that threw more volts to the motor? Was nice option, but I only used it once when I discovered it. 20 was plenty fast enough for me compared to life style cart that could verily break 16.

Something else I noticed on the star? Tires had severe in and outside wear on the back?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

As has been pointed out, the increase in speed is minimal. Somewhere around 2 mph. But you will get a smoother ride. Small bumps are not felt as much with the larger tires.

Make sure that you have enough clearance. With larger tires you may experience the tire hitting the wheel well when you hit bumps. You may need to lift the cart a bit.

[RickeyD]

When I rented couple years ago a star cart was finished. It ran right at 20 MPH. I noticed high low switch on the dash which I thought was for headlights? Wrong! It was like over drive or another gear. The cart took off from 20 mph up to at least 30 mph. No this wasn't LSV. I guess star had some wiring that threw more volts to the motor? Was nice option, but I only used it once when I discovered it. 20 was plenty fast enough for me compared to life style cart that could verily break 16.



Something else I noticed on the star? Tires had severe in and outside wear on the back?


The switch probably killed half the motor poles thereby increasing your speed. A lot cheaper then an overdrive.

[toeser]

your speed on your speedometer is based on rotation of tire - when you change the size of the tire - the speed on the speedometer changes - NOT the speed of the cart - you are not going any faster - just your speedometer is no longer accurate!

A very cheap, easy solution to this problem is to buy a used smartphone (often can be found for $10-15), get a good speedometer app, and your speed will be dead accurate from the GPS system. The app I got also shows direction, odometer, trip meter, and time of day. There are cell phone mounts for golf carts on Amazon and Ebay that are cheap. I probably get 10 trips to a charge.

[tomwed]

A very cheap, easy solution to this problem is to buy a used smartphone (often can be found for $10-15), get a good speedometer app, and your speed will be dead accurate from the GPS system. The app I got also shows direction, odometer, trip meter, and time of day. There are cell phone mounts for golf carts on Amazon and Ebay that are cheap. I probably get 10 trips to a charge.
What app do you have? I'm looking for an app that tells me when I'm speeding.

[par_geo]

Increasing the size of the tire can be problematic with Club Cars, not because in increases the speed a bit, but because the wheel well clearance is so close to the 8" tires. Oversize tires require a "lift kit" to raise the cart so the tires won't rub the wheel well when you turn.

[burky]

your speed on your speedometer is based on rotation of tire - when you change the size of the tire - the speed on the speedometer changes - NOT the speed of the cart - you are not going any faster - just your speedometer is no longer accurate!

Cookie - FYI the speedometer on any vehicle knows nothing about the tire diameter. It either assumes the factory default circumference or allows you to enter a new one in a Setup screen. The speedometer is essentially measuring the RPM of the engine, then calculating the tire rotation in RPM by converting engine speed to tire RPM using the transmission/drive train gear ratios.

Thus if the speedometer is calibrated to think you are going 20 mph at an engine RPM of 4850 with a certain sized tire, and you put a bigger diameter tire on the vehicle, you will then be actually going faster over the ground at that 4850 RPM but the speedometer (not knowing you have changed the tire size) will not be changed but will still be reading "20 mph" at the 4850 RPM engine speed even though you are really traveling faster than that with the new bigger tires.

[tuccillo]

If you are talking about a golf cart, that is not the way it works, at least on my Yamaha. On my Yamaha, and I assume this is true for most if not all golf carts, there is a sensor on the front suspension that measures tire rotations. When the speedometer/odometer is setup, the tire diameter is entered. With the tire rotation rate and the built in timer, the speed is a trivial computation. There is no need to know the engine RPMs.

Cookie - FYI the speedometer on any vehicle knows nothing about the tire diameter. It either assumes the factory default circumference or allows you to enter a new one in a Setup screen. The speedometer is essentially measuring the RPM of the engine, then calculating the tire rotation in RPM by converting engine speed to tire RPM using the transmission/drive train gear ratios.

Thus if the speedometer is calibrated to think you are going 20 mph at an engine RPM of 4850 with a certain sized tire, and you put a bigger diameter tire on the vehicle, you will then be actually going faster over the ground at that 4850 RPM but the speedometer (not knowing you have changed the tire size) will not be changed but will still be reading "20 mph" at the 4850 RPM engine speed even though you are really traveling faster than that with the new bigger tires.

[OhioBuckeye]

I worked in the auto industry for 38 yrs. & I'm no expert on drive trains but it makes sense to me that 8 in. tires will make the rear axle run faster & your engine will only pull the cart as fast as the engine will let you but 10 in. tires spin the rear axle slower so in turn the engine will spin the rear axle faster because the bigger tires will spin the axle less times. I asked this same question to my salesman when I bought my golf cart & he said bigger tires make no difference. So what's the difference, better ride? I disagree with the salesman. Bigger tires will make your cart run a little faster. The only con I can see is, don't complain if you get pulled over for going over 20 mph.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I worked in the auto industry for 38 yrs. & I'm no expert on drive trains but it makes sense to me that 8 in. tires will make the rear axle run faster & your engine will only pull the cart as fast as the engine will let you but 10 in. tires spin the rear axle slower so in turn the engine will spin the rear axle faster because the bigger tires will spin the axle less times. I asked this same question to my salesman when I bought my golf cart & he said bigger tires make no difference. So what's the difference, better ride? I disagree with the salesman. Bigger tires will make your cart run a little faster. The only con I can see is, don't complain if you get pulled over for going over 20 mph.

The problem with your whole theory is that that the tires do not control the rate at which the axle spins. The engine and transmission determine how fast the axle spins. Putting on a larger tire means that a point on the outside of the tire will move further in the same amount of time that a point on the outside of a smaller tire will move if the axle spins at the same speed thereby traveling further in the same amount of time.

For example, if the outside diameter of a tire was 12" the the circumference would be approximately, 18.85" A tire with a 14" outside diameter would have a circumference of 22". The 12" tire would travel 18.85 inches every revolution and the 14" tire would travel 22". Assuming that the speed of the revolutions is the same, the larger tire would travel 18.85 inches sooner then the smaller tire. Or, the larger tire would travel 22" in the same time that the smaller tire travels 18.85 inches. Either of which is the definition of going faster.

The argument might be that putting on a larger tire may make the axle turn slower because of the weight. If that's the case, then we'd have to know exactly how much slower the axle turns and exactly how much further a point on the outside of the tire moves to determine whether the cart will go slower, faster or the same. But, in my experience and in the experience of most experts that I've spoken with, larger tires will give you a bit more speed. In other words the amount that the axle is slowed down, if at all, doesn't offset the additional distance the tire will travel.

Another point is that if you put larger tires on the back of the cart and not on the front and your speedometer is attached to the your front tires, no adjustment to the speedometer needs to be made. The speedometer is simply measuring how many revolutions the tire is making and multiplying that to how far each revolution make the cart travel.

[ednetdl]

I would wonder if a cart was designed for 8 inch tires and 10s are put on, do you put more strain on the motor?
Also, if you are going on a 3 mile trip, you would save about a minute of travel time, and that assumes you are the only cart on the trail. Since there usually are other carts you will catch up to that are going at 20, or slower, the time saved is relatively negligible, and probably not worth the expense.

[tomwed]

Is this helpful?
click here (http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/hot-rods-rat-rods/Speedometer-Calibration-Tire-Size-Change-Calculator.asp#axzz3yGxHQV84)

[bagboy]

All I know is two posters with golf cart repair/service experience have stated that larger tires/wheels will give you a little more speed.... good enough for me.

[RickeyD]

The problem with your whole theory is that that the tires do not control the rate at which the axle spins. The engine and transmission determine how fast the axle spins. Putting on a larger tire means that a point on the outside of the tire will move further in the same amount of time that a point on the outside of a smaller tire will move if the axle spins at the same speed thereby traveling further in the same amount of time.



For example, if the outside diameter of a tire was 12" the the circumference would be approximately, 18.85" A tire with a 14" outside diameter would have a circumference of 22". The 12" tire would travel 18.85 inches every revolution and the 14" tire would travel 22". Assuming that the speed of the revolutions is the same, the larger tire would travel 18.85 inches sooner then the smaller tire. Or, the larger tire would travel 22" in the same time that the smaller tire travels 18.85 inches. Either of which is the definition of going faster.



The argument might be that putting on a larger tire may make the axle turn slower because of the weight. If that's the case, then we'd have to know exactly how much slower the axle turns and exactly how much further a point on the outside of the tire moves to determine whether the cart will go slower, faster or the same. But, in my experience and in the experience of most experts that I've spoken with, larger tires will give you a bit more speed. In other words the amount that the axle is slowed down, if at all, doesn't offset the additional distance the tire will travel.



Another point is that if you put larger tires on the back of the cart and not on the front and your speedometer is attached to the your front tires, no adjustment to the speedometer needs to be made. The speedometer is simply measuring how many revolutions the tire is making and multiplying that to how far each revolution make the cart travel.


A voice of reason and logic within a thread of misunderstanding and chaos.

[ajbrown]

snipped by Alan

For example, if the outside diameter of a tire was 12" the the circumference would be approximately, 18.85" A tire with a 14" outside diameter would have a circumference of 22". The 12" tire would travel 18.85 inches every revolution and the 14" tire would travel 22". Assuming that the speed of the revolutions is the same, the larger tire would travel 18.85 inches sooner then the smaller tire. Or, the larger tire would travel 22" in the same time that the smaller tire travels 18.85 inches. Either of which is the definition of going faster.

snipped by Alan...

You had me right up to the paragraph i left from your OP. If I have not made a silly error here are the details...

If the OD of a tire is 12 inches, the circumference is 37.7 inches.
If the OD of a tire is 14 inches , the circumference is 43.98

A more real world example is the stock tires on an 8 inch rim that came with my Club Car versus the bigger 205-65-10 tires on 10 inch rims.

Stock tires: 18 diameter has a circumference of 56.55
205-65-10: 20.5 inch diameter has a circumference of 64.4

I go about 8 inches further with the larger tires during one revolution.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

You had me right up to the paragraph i left from your OP. If I have not made a silly error here are the details...

If the OD of a tire is 12 inches, the circumference is 37.7 inches.
If the OD of a tire is 14 inches , the circumference is 43.98

A more real world example is the stock tires on an 8 inch rim that came with my Club Car versus the bigger 205-65-10 tires on 10 inch rims.

Stock tires: 18 diameter has a circumference of 56.55
205-65-10: 20.5 inch diameter has a circumference of 64.4

I go about 8 inches further with the larger tires during one revolution.

You are correct sir. I was too hasty and applied the wrong formula.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Maybe someone can help me with a problem. I have a Schwinn Speedometer on my cart and the battery died. I replaced the battery an a four digit number appeared on the bottom of the screen. I played around with it for a bit to get to where it shows the speed and distance traveled. It showed that I was going 51 mph.

I then realized that that four digit number is a code for the tire size. Can someone help me out with resetting the correct code?

I have a Club Car DS with standard 8" tires on the front.

[tuccillo]

If I had to guess I would say it is the tire circumference in millimeters.

Maybe someone can help me with a problem. I have a Schwinn Speedometer on my cart and the battery died. I replaced the battery an a four digit number appeared on the bottom of the screen. I played around with it for a bit to get to where it shows the speed and distance traveled. It showed that I was going 51 mph.

I then realized that that four digit number is a code for the tire size. Can someone help me out with resetting the correct code?

I have a Club Car DS with standard 8" tires on the front.

[Bobs GolfCart Speedometer]

Maybe someone can help me with a problem. I have a Schwinn Speedometer on my cart and the battery died. I replaced the battery an a four digit number appeared on the bottom of the screen. I played around with it for a bit to get to where it shows the speed and distance traveled. It showed that I was going 51 mph.

I then realized that that four digit number is a code for the tire size. Can someone help me out with resetting the correct code?

I have a Club Car DS with standard 8" tires on the front.

The correct tire size (circumference) for standard 8 inch cart tires is 1440 mm. Here's a link to an owners manual for the Schwinn 12 function speedometer that's most commonly installed on carts here in The Villages.

K3PGP - Experimenters Corner - Schwinn 12 Function Bicycle Computer Manual (http://www.k3pgp.org/schwinnmanual.htm)

The first page explains how to setup the tire size again after changing the battery. You can skip the part about how to calculate the correct tire size, just use 1440.

[tuccillo]

The units are millimeters (mm), not centimeters (cm).

The correct tire size (circumference) for standard 8 inch cart tires is 1440 cm. Here's a link to an owners manual for the Schwinn 12 function speedometer that's most commonly installed on carts here in The Villages.

K3PGP - Experimenters Corner - Schwinn 12 Function Bicycle Computer Manual (http://www.k3pgp.org/schwinnmanual.htm)

The first page explains how to setup the tire size again after changing the battery. You can skip the part about how to calculate the correct tire size, just use 1440.

[tomwed]

The units are millimeters (mm), not centimeters (cm).
Not for nothing, but the OP did say he wanted to put on larger tires. They would be pretty big.

[Bobs GolfCart Speedometer]

The units are millimeters (mm), not centimeters (cm).

You are correct, thanks for pointing out my error.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Not for nothing, but the OP did say he wanted to put on larger tires. They would be pretty big.

Umm....where did I say that?

The tires on the front of my cart, to which the speedometer is connected are standard 8" tires that are on all Club Cars. I have no plans to change them.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The correct tire size (circumference) for standard 8 inch cart tires is 1440 mm. Here's a link to an owners manual for the Schwinn 12 function speedometer that's most commonly installed on carts here in The Villages.

K3PGP - Experimenters Corner - Schwinn 12 Function Bicycle Computer Manual (http://www.k3pgp.org/schwinnmanual.htm)

The first page explains how to setup the tire size again after changing the battery. You can skip the part about how to calculate the correct tire size, just use 1440.

Thanks, that helps. I saw that site before but was a bit concerned because the pictures of the speedometer in the manual differ from mine. But I'm now thinking that they are all pretty much the same except for the outer case.

What kind of speedometers do you install and how much are they?

[Bobs GolfCart Speedometer]

Thanks, that helps. I saw that site before but was a bit concerned because the pictures of the speedometer in the manual differ from mine. But I'm now thinking that they are all pretty much the same except for the outer case.

What kind of speedometers do you install and how much are they?

Here's a link to my ad on Talk of The Villages:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/speedometers-255/speedometers-installed-golf-carts-32576/

I charge $90.00 plus sales tax.