Can I make my golf cart go faster? Yes, you absolutely can make your golf cart go faster by making several key upgrades to its electrical system, motor, or even the tires and suspension.
Golf carts are fun for cruising around neighborhoods or courses. But sometimes, you want a little more zip. Making your golf cart faster involves more than just pressing the pedal harder. It takes smart choices about golf cart speed upgrades. We will walk through the best ways to boost your cart’s speed safely and effectively.
Why Your Golf Cart Might Be Slow
Most standard golf carts are designed for utility, not speed. They prioritize long battery life and smooth, slow movement. Factory settings often limit the speed to meet safety rules for golf courses. If you use your cart on private property, you have much more freedom to change these limits.
Factors limiting speed include:
- The speed controller’s software limits.
- The power output of the motor.
- The voltage supplied by the batteries.
- The size and type of tires used.
To get a faster golf cart controller, you must address these limits one by one.
Level 1: Simple, Easy Speed Boosts
These steps are usually the easiest and cheapest ways to gain a little speed. They require minimal technical skill.
Adjusting the Speed Controller (If Possible)
Many modern golf carts, especially those from major brands like E-Z-GO, Club Car, or Yamaha, have electronic speed limiters built into the controller.
Deciphering Speed Controller Settings
Some controllers allow you to adjust the speed setting using a simple diagnostic tool or by switching jumpers on the controller board itself.
- Check the Manual: Always look at your cart’s service manual first. It tells you if speed changes are allowed and how to do them.
- Tuning for More Power: If you find an adjustment setting, you might see options like “Tow/Run” switches or simple dip switches. Moving these can unlock higher factory settings.
If your cart is older or simpler, the controller might be set in stone, forcing you to look at component replacement for true golf cart performance mods.
Tire Changes for Speed
Tires have a huge impact on speed. Think of it like gearing on a bicycle. Larger tires make the cart travel farther with each wheel rotation, raising the top speed. This is a great way to achieve increasing golf cart top speed.
The Tire Size Effect
If you switch from small, standard tires (like 18-inch) to larger tires (like 22 or 23 inches), your cart will go faster, assuming the motor can handle the added load.
| Stock Tire Diameter (Inches) | Hypothetical Speed Gain (vs. Stock) | Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Base Speed (Reference) | Standard torque |
| 20 | 10% Increase | Slight drop in acceleration |
| 22 | 20% Increase | Requires more motor power |
| 23+ | 25%+ Increase | Significant strain on stock parts |
Important Note on Tire Swaps: When you put on bigger tires, the speedometer will read inaccurately. It will show a slower speed than you are actually going. Also, bigger tires create more resistance. Your stock motor and controller might struggle, causing them to run hotter.
Optimizing Battery Health
A weak battery system means low voltage. Low voltage means low power, resulting in a slow cart. Good batteries are key to good performance.
- Keep Them Charged: Never let lead-acid batteries drop too low. Deep discharges hurt their lifespan and power output.
- Check Water Levels (If Applicable): For flooded lead-acid batteries, keep the water topped up with distilled water. This keeps the plates working well.
- Consider Lithium: While expensive, switching to a high-output lithium battery pack provides more consistent voltage, which translates directly to better speed and sustained power.
Level 2: Essential Component Upgrades for Performance
When simple tweaks aren’t enough, you need to replace core parts. This is where golf cart performance parts start coming into play.
Upgrading the Controller: The Brain of the Cart
The speed controller manages how much electricity goes to the motor. A stock controller limits power flow to keep the motor cool and conserve battery life. Swapping to an aftermarket controller is one of the most effective golf cart speed upgrades.
Features of Performance Controllers
Performance controllers offer higher amperage ratings. Amps (Amperage) equal torque and overall pull. More amps mean the motor gets more fuel (electricity) to work with.
- Higher Amperage: Look for controllers rated for 300 amps or more, depending on your cart model and motor type (Series or AC).
- Regenerative Braking Settings: Some performance controllers let you adjust or turn off regenerative braking, which sometimes saps a tiny bit of speed when lifting your foot off the pedal.
- Compatibility: Ensure the controller matches your cart type (e.g., Series DC for older carts, or AC controllers for newer, more complex systems). Installing a faster golf cart controller is a major step toward real speed.
Motor Swaps: The Powerhouse Change
If your controller is maxed out, the motor itself might be the bottleneck. Stock motors are wound for efficiency, not outright speed.
Series vs. AC Motors
- Series Motors: Common in older or basic carts. They are robust but limited in speed potential without major rewinding.
- AC Motors (High Performance): Modern systems often use AC motors with sophisticated controllers. These are much easier to upgrade for significant speed gains without overheating as quickly as older series motors.
Installing a High-Speed Motor
To maximize speed, you need a motor designed with a higher RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) rating. These motors are designed to spin faster under load.
For those seeking extreme power, the golf cart big block kit might be considered. These kits usually include a heavily modified or oversized motor designed for high torque and high RPMs, often requiring supporting electrical upgrades to run correctly.
Level 3: Advanced Modifications and Tuning
These steps involve more complex changes, often touching on golf cart engine tuning principles, even if your cart is electric.
Increasing System Voltage
Voltage (Volts) is the pressure pushing the electricity. Higher voltage allows the controller and motor to move more power at once. This is often the most direct route to top speed.
Warning: Changing voltage requires changing everything in the electrical path, or you risk burning components.
- From 36V to 48V: This is a common upgrade path. It requires new batteries (six 6-volt batteries become eight 6-volt batteries, or six 8-volt batteries). You must have a 48V-rated controller and often a 48V-rated solenoid.
- From 48V to 72V: This offers massive potential speed but is usually reserved for heavily modified carts. This absolutely requires a controller and motor rated for 72V.
When golf cart speed tuning tips are discussed, raising voltage is usually at the top of the list for electric carts, as it directly increases the potential horsepower.
Gearing Adjustments
Gearing is how you trade speed for torque (pulling power) or vice versa. This involves changing the differential gears inside the transaxle.
- For More Speed: You need to install “taller” gears. Taller gears mean the wheel spins more times relative to the motor spin. This raises the top speed but severely hurts acceleration and climbing ability.
- For More Torque (Better with Big Tires): You would install “shorter” gears. This improves hill climbing and getting heavy tires moving but lowers the maximum top speed.
If you install a golf cart lift kit speed package, it often includes taller tires and gearing adjustments bundled together to offset the drag from the lift and larger tires, keeping the speed reasonable.
Addressing Friction and Weight
Lighter carts move faster with the same power. Reducing unnecessary weight helps, though this is often minor unless you are removing heavy steel bodies for custom fiberglass or aluminum.
More importantly, reduce friction:
- Wheel Bearings: Ensure all wheel bearings are clean, properly greased, and spin freely.
- Bushings: Upgrade plastic bushings to high-quality, low-friction bearings in the suspension and steering components.
Specific Considerations for Gas Golf Carts
While most people focus on electric speed, gas carts (usually powered by small single-cylinder industrial engines) can also be modified. Gas golf cart engine tuning is similar to small lawnmower engine tuning.
Gas Engine Upgrades
- Exhaust: Installing a performance muffler or straight-pipe (where legal) can help the engine breathe better, slightly increasing horsepower.
- Air Intake: Replacing the restrictive stock air filter with a high-flow cone filter allows more air into the carburetor.
- Governor Removal/Adjustment: The governor is a mechanical device limiting engine RPMs. Removing or adjusting the governor allows the engine to rev higher, directly increasing speed. Warning: Over-revving a stock engine can cause catastrophic failure (it can blow up). This modification severely reduces engine life.
- Carburetor Tuning: Adjusting the fuel mixture (jets) to match the higher airflow from the new exhaust and intake is crucial for maximizing performance without running too lean (which causes overheating).
Safety First: The Limits of Speed Upgrades
Making a golf cart significantly faster introduces major safety hazards. Speed adjustments must be done with safety in mind.
Braking Capacity
Stock golf cart brakes (usually simple mechanical drum brakes or small hydraulic systems) are designed for 12-15 MPH. When you push the top speed to 25 MPH or higher, your stopping distance increases dramatically.
- Upgrade Brakes: If you aim for speeds over 20 MPH, you must upgrade the braking system. This often means installing high-quality hydraulic disc brakes, especially on the front wheels.
Suspension and Handling
A golf cart lift kit speed package often changes the cart’s center of gravity. Higher speeds combined with a high center of gravity make the cart more prone to tipping during sharp turns.
- Stiffer Springs: Install stiffer springs or performance shocks to reduce body roll.
- Wider Axles/Tire Stance: Wider axles improve stability at speed.
- Tire Choice: High-speed carts need tires rated for higher speeds, not just large diameters. Ensure your high-speed golf cart tires have proper load ratings and speed ratings.
Frame Integrity
Golf cart frames are not designed like cars. Pushing them past 30 MPH puts significant stress on welds and joints, especially during bumps or turns. Be realistic about how fast you can safely push a simple cart frame.
Summary of Key Upgrades for Speed
To summarize the journey to a faster golf cart, here is a table detailing the typical progression:
| Upgrade Focus | Primary Benefit | Typical Cost Range | Expertise Level | Keywords Addressed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Size Change | Increased wheel RPM (Top Speed) | Low to Medium | Easy | High-speed golf cart tires |
| Controller Swap | Increased amperage (Better acceleration/Sustained Speed) | Medium to High | Intermediate | Faster golf cart controller, Golf cart speed upgrades |
| Voltage Increase (48V to 72V) | Increased power pressure (Significant Top Speed) | High | Advanced | Golf cart performance mods |
| Motor Replacement | Higher RPM capacity | Medium to High | Intermediate/Advanced | Golf cart big block kit |
| Gearing Change | Trading torque for top speed | Medium | Advanced | Golf cart speed tuning tips |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it legal to make a golf cart faster?
Legality depends entirely on where you drive it. On private property, it is usually fine. If you plan to drive it on public roads (even golf cart designated roads), many states have limits on how fast a street-legal golf cart can travel (often capped at 20 MPH). Check your local DMV laws before making major speed modifications.
Will making my golf cart faster void the warranty?
Yes. Any modification involving opening the controller, changing the wiring harness, or replacing the motor will almost certainly void the manufacturer’s warranty on those specific components and potentially the entire powertrain warranty.
Do I need a lift kit to install bigger tires?
Yes, for most carts. If you install tires significantly larger than stock (e.g., moving from 18 inches to 22 inches), the larger tires will rub against the fenders or the main body housing when turning or going over bumps. A golf cart lift kit speed package is necessary to provide the necessary clearance.
How much faster can I expect my golf cart to go?
A stock cart might go 12-15 MPH. With simple tire and controller swaps, you can often reach 20-25 MPH reliably. With full motor, controller, and voltage upgrades, speeds exceeding 30 MPH are achievable, but these carts require significant safety overhauls.