The Top 5 Ways of How to Make a Golf Cart Faster in 2024
Posted by Alex Sturwold on Oct 12, 2024
How to Make a Golf Cart Faster
We read through other articles on "how to make a golf cart go faster", and realized that most all were just generic regurgitation (without real meat and potatoes info). Or they were written by artificial intelligence and just plain inaccurate. Those articles give you tips like " increase the torque" or "make your cart lighter" (duh), but don't tell you how to do it. So we used our Golf Cart Expert Team's 30+ Years of experience to sit down and bring you this real, and helpful article with no fluff. So let's get started!
Feeling like your golf cart's running slower than your neighbor's shiny new cart? Or maybe your cart is running out of steam during use on the course or around the neighborhood? Well, don't worry! We fix this for our customers all the time. Checking just a few normal items on your cart and then swapping in a few new golf cart parts can turn your ride from snooze to CRUISE instantly. Whether you're after more speed, acceleration, or just a better overall feel of power from your cart, we've got some suggestions for you below. Check out these top five easiest ways to give your cart a serious performance boost.
Additionally, if your cart is electric, we'd recommend reading: How to Make an Electric Golf Cart Faster for more specifics on your electric cart. If your golf cart is gas-powered, then check out our gas article: How to Make a Gas Golf Cart Faster
1. Use Larger Tires or Radial Tires
Okay, we swear we're not being biased with this one! It's just simple truth when it comes to wheels and tires. Taller golf cart tires will make your cart run 1-2 mph faster in terms of top speed. This is because taller tires increase the overall diameter (height) of the wheels and tires mounted on your cart, leading to a greater distance traveled with each tire rotation when driving. So each time your tire goes around, your golf cart covers more ground. Which increases your cart's speed.
And steel-belted radial golf cart tires will add another 1-2 mph to your top speed as well. This is because radial tires have less rolling resistance and hold their shape better when they heat up, meaning you get a smoother, more true roll for your cart. A smoother roll (less friction on the ground) means a higher top speed. It's science!
Not All Taller Tires Are Created Equal
We want to point out that street / turf golf cart tires will always run faster than all terrain style golf cart tires. And that is because the flat and smooth tread pattern of street tires has less rolling resistance than all-terrain tires with their notchy pattern (which helps with grip off road). So street tires will always produce the highest top speed of any tread type (by 1mph or so). Keep this in mind when selecting tires for your cart!
2. Use Lithium Golf Cart Batteries
Since we first made it known in 2018 that lighter, higher-capacity Lithium Golf Cart Batteries were the future - they have completely taken over the industry. And it is with good reason! Because they just make your cart perform better in so many ways. But when it comes to overall speed, lithium batteries make your cart faster in two ways:
- They're Much Lighter: Lithium golf cart batteries weigh up to 300lbs less than standard lead-acid batteries. Once installed, you will INSTANTLY notice how much lighter and faster your cart feels.
- Don't Lose Power as They Lose Charge: You know your cell phone works at full power whether it has 30% battery or 80% battery, and it is because it has Lithium-ion batteries. Lithium golf cart batteries, in the same way, will not lose power as your charge level drops. This means you have FULL horsepower all day in your cart, until your cart's battery hits 0% and shuts off.
We have had customers report up to 3-4mph top speed increase from installing lithium batteries in their cart.
While making your cart faster and weighing less is already enough reason to go with lithium next time you need to replace your cart's batteries, we just want to remind you of these additional benefits of changing to lithium for your cart:
- They fully charge in 2-3 hours (vs. 8-10hrs for traditional Lead-Acid batteries)
- They live longer (3x - 5x longer) than traditional golf cart batteries
- They require NO maintenance (no adding water, cleaning corrosion, or checking acid levels)
Read more about lithium golf cart batteries: Why Lithium Golf Cart Batteries are the Future
3. Performance Golf Cart Controller
A golf cart controller or golf cart speed controller does exactly what its name implies: controls the speed and power of your golf cart's motor. You can almost think of your controller as the brain of your golf cart. And every electric golf cart comes from the factory with a factory installed controller. These controllers are typically set to a default power and torque spec for golf course use. But they are capable of much more than that! So when it comes to your controller you have a few options of how to squeeze more power out:
- Speed chips or re-programming: Also known as "personality chips" or "personality plugs", these simple electric plugs replace your factory speed chip settings, and untap more of your factory motor's potential for you to use. Speed chips can take your cart from a factory limited 15mph-18mph all the way up to 22mph on some cart models. The best part: they only cost $10-$20 for most carts. They are especially popular with cart models older than 2010 production year from EZGO, Club Car and Yamaha.
- Upgrading your controller: If you really want to have some fun, we recommend upgrading your cart's controller. A new speed controller installed on your cart will make you swear you put a whole new motor in it. They typically come with a set of power dials you mount on your dash, so you can control how much HP your cart has. This new controller allows you to untap all of your factory golf cart motor's power. We have installed controllers on factory carts and gotten up to 27mph on factory motors (and 25mph is easily achievable all day).
A golf cart speed controller is one of the best upgrades you can make to the powerplant of your cart. They directly affect how your cart handles climbing hills, powers forward with larger wheels and tires, and how snappy your cart's acceleration feels when you hit the gas.
4. High-Speed Golf Cart Motor
This is the most expensive option on our list, but it's the fastest way to have your cart literally doing wheelies (if you're into that kind of thing). Upgrading your golf cart's electric motor or gas engine with a more powerful unit is one of the best ways to get more speed out of your golf cart. We've had customers swap ATV engines into their gas golf carts, taking their factory power from 6.5 HP to well over 25 HP and reaching speeds up to 70+ mph. And when it comes to electric motors, we sell plenty of units on our website that can get your cart above 40 mph and have you popping wheelies with the torque they put out.
Since golf carts are built for golf course and neighborhood use, most factory golf cart motors just can't get above 25-27mph, even with a top-notch speed controller installed. But a high-speed golf cart motor paired with an upgraded controller increases your cart's top speed and torque dramatically.
When it comes to upgrading your golf cart motor, we highly recommend pairing it with a performance controller and an upgraded heavy-duty solenoid. The controller will ensure you can tap (and control) 100% of the power of your new motor. And the solenoid will ensure instant flow between all your new electric upgrades, protecting you from frying things. Heavy-duty solenoids can handle higher currents without overheating and can prevent electrical hiccups.
5. Tune-Up Kit, Maintenance, Greasing
When was the last time you actually changed the spark plug or air filter on your gas cart? Probably longer than one year. And while waiting until something fails is fine, you are definitely sacrificing power along the way. We tell our customers all the time that the simplest fixes can make a big difference for their cart (especially when it comes to gas golf carts). Regular maintenance and a tune-up each year ensures that your golf cart runs at its best. And a good tune-up kit costs less than $50 for most golf carts. Replacing your air filter, fuel filter, oil and spark plug annually help speed up your cart in the following ways:
- Power Gains: Better airflow, and better ignition of fuel mean improved power for your cart. More power means a higher top speed and better torque off the line.
- Fuel Efficiency: The same as with power output, clean airflow and sharp ignition mean better mileage per gallon for your cart.
Gas carts aren't the only carts that need tune-up work though. For all carts in general, there are some key maintenance tips we recommend to take it a step further for top speed:
- Check your hubs for smoothness.
- Grease all moving parts to reduce friction.
- Inspect and clean battery terminals (for electric carts with lead-acid batteries).
Regular tune-ups and routine golf cart maintenance can bring back lost performance to your cart, and prevent future breakdowns. Over time, components can wear out or become less efficient due to dirt, corrosion, or lack of lubrication. Staying ahead on your maintenance means your cart operates smoothly and efficiently all the time. And it can save you money by preventing unnecessary repair bills over time.
Summing it Up
Using upgraded golf carts parts highlighted in this article, in combination with keeping your cart maintained can seriously boost your ride's performance (and fun level). Whether you want a small bump in power, or you want the fastest cart in your neighborhood, the items outlined in this article will definitely get you there.
Have questions about making your golf cart faster? We're always here to help you find the right golf cart accessories for your cart, and to answer any questions you might have. Just call 1-844-422-7884 today!
