Golf Cart Tire Speed Rating and Load Rating Guide
Read Time: 4 minutes
Summary:
- How to read tire speed and load ratings, and their importance.
- Detailed charts for load and speed ratings.
How to Read Golf Cart Tire Speed Ratings
Golf cart tires with speed and load ratings will have a number-letter combination (for example: 67M) printed somewhere on the tire's sidewall. The number denotes the load rating, while the letter represents the speed rating.
In the image above, you can see that the load rating of this 205/50-10 tire is " 67", and the speed rating is "M".
- Speed Rating is a letter from A to Z that indicates the maximum speed a tire can safely maintain over time while carrying its maximum Load (Load Rating). This "speed rating letter" represents the max speed of the tire in Miles Per Hour.
- Load Rating is a numerical code that indicates the maximum load that a tire can carry, when traveling at the tire's Max Speed Rating.
- The two ratings depend on each other, which is why they are listed together.
Load and Speed Rating Tables
The rating values found in the charts below are the most common golf cart tire speed ratings and golf cart tire load ratings:
Golf Cart Tire Load Rating Table
| Load Index | Pounds |
|---|---|
| 50 | 419 lbs |
| 51 | 430 lbs |
| 52 | 441 lbs |
| 53 | 454 lbs |
| 54 | 467 lbs |
| 55 | 481 lbs |
| 56 | 494 lbs |
| 57 | 507 lbs |
| 58 | 520 lbs |
| 59 | 536 lbs |
| 60 | 551 lbs |
| 61 | 567 lbs |
| 62 | 584 lbs |
| 63 | 600 lbs |
| 64 | 617 lbs |
| 65 | 639 lbs |
| 66 | 661 lbs |
| 67 | 677 lbs |
| 68 | 694 lbs |
| 69 | 716 lbs |
| 70 | 739 lbs |
| 71 | 761 lbs |
| 72 | 783 lbs |
| 73 | 805 lbs |
| 74 | 827 lbs |
| 75 | 852 lbs |
| 76 | 882 lbs |
| 77 | 908 lbs |
| 78 | 937 lbs |
| 79 | 963 lbs |
| 80 | 992 lbs |
| 81 | 1019 lbs |
| 82 | 1047 lbs |
| 83 | 1074 lbs |
| 84 | 1102 lbs |
| 85 | 1135 lbs |
| 86 | 1168 lbs |
| 87 | 1201 lbs |
| 88 | 1235 lbs |
| 89 | 1279 lbs |
| 90 | 1323 lbs |
| 91 | 1356 lbs |
| 92 | 1389 lbs |
| 93 | 1433 lbs |
| 94 | 1477 lbs |
| 95 | 1521 lbs |
| 96 | 1565 lbs |
| 97 | 1609 lbs |
| 98 | 1653 lbs |
| 99 | 1709 lbs |
| 100 | 1764 lbs |
The more weight you are planning to put on your golf cart (extra passengers, coolers, etc.) the more important the load rating of your tires becomes. Most golf cart tires will not have Load Index of lower than 57 (or 500lbs) at minimum.
Golf Cart Tire Speed Rating Chart
| Speed Rating | Maximum Speed |
|---|---|
| A1 | 3 mph |
| A2 | 6 mph |
| A3 | 9 mph |
| A4 | 12 mph |
| A5 | 16 mph |
| A6 | 19 mph |
| A7 | 22 mph |
| A8 | 25 mph |
| B | 31 mph |
| C | 37 mph |
| D | 40 mph |
| E | 43 mph |
| F | 50 mph |
| G | 56 mph |
| J | 62 mph |
| K | 68 mph |
| L | 75 mph |
| M | 81 mph |
| N | 87 mph |
| P | 93 mph |
The closer the speed rating is to the end of the alphabet, the better the tire will perform at high speeds. The higher the speed rating, the better the grip but the less the length of the tread life will be.
How Important are these Ratings for Golf Carts?
Speed and load ratings should not be the primary factor in choosing your golf cart tires, as most carts do not exceed 25mph. If you've ever done 25mph in a golf cart, it feels FAST. And more than 25mph feels downright dangerous! Still, for golf carts, speed and load ratings aren't as important as they are in car and truck tires (which need to be able to handle highway speeds).
But as golf carts continue to get used more and more off the course, and used to carry more people and gear using things such as rear seats and cargo beds, tire load rating becomes more important to understand. While not all golf cart tires have these ratings stamped on them, those that do can offer helpful insights into their capabilities when used on your cart.
While speed and load ratings provide important information about tire performance, other factors like terrain and tread design are also very important.
Leading Key Considerations:
- Terrain & Tread Pattern: Choose golf cart tires with a tread pattern suited for the surfaces you drive on most.
- Height: Ensure the overall height of the tire and wheel combo fits your cart.
- Radial vs. Bias: If you do mostly street driving, select a radial golf cart tire to maximize smoothness and tread life of your tires.
Golf Cart Weight
Understanding how much a golf cart weighs is important when it comes to operating your cart safely alongside your tires' max load rating. Most golf cart tires should in theory be able to hold all the weight you could throw at them when loading up what you can fit on a golf cart. But you'll still want to make sure the load rating on your tires indicates the maximum weight they can support won't be more than what you're carrying on-board. Overloading your cart can lead to premature tire wear and even extremely dangerous tire failure. Always check your tire’s load rating to avoid exceeding the weight limit and ensure safe and optimal performance.
For more detailed information and tire recommendations, explore our full lineup of pre-mounted golf cart wheel and tire combos or give us a call at 1-844-422-7884 today!
