My 8N

How hard is it exactly to replace the front tires on an 8N, been watching a few you tube videos, looks like breaking the bead would be the hardest, saw one guy doing it with a couple, looks like 8 inch screw drivers, he had a hard time, another guy with some bigger pry bars had alot easier time, I will be putting on 4 x 19 tires and new tubes, what do you think, I will be attempting to do it with alot of stone knives and chisels, I will get the bigger pry bars if needed, I figure some of you have done it so what does everyone think, my swearing hasn't been out for awhile.

I think the tire shop does areal good job!

(quoted from post at 16:22:34 08/22/20) How hard is it exactly to replace the front tires on an 8N, been watching a few you tube videos, looks like breaking the bead would be the hardest, saw one guy doing it with a couple, looks like 8 inch screw drivers, he had a hard time, another guy with some bigger pry bars had alot easier time, I will be putting on 4 x 19 tires and new tubes, what do you think, I will be attempting to do it with alot of stone knives and chisels, I will get the bigger pry bars if needed, I figure some of you have done it so what does everyone think, my swearing hasn't been out for awhile.

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Screw drivers and chisels are a bad idea - invest in a couple cheap tire irons. You will have far less chance of bending the rim or pinching a tube. I have two of these that have more than paid for themselves.

HF Tire Iron

TOH

in the immortal words of Mr. Spock to Edith Keeler: "I am attempting to construct a mnemonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins."

i'm with mr. geiger - i like my local (sorta) tire people.

I do all my own tire work.
It is very simple, especially on fronts.
I break the bead by driving on the tire eith my heavy pickup. Then I use wonderbar type pry bars to get the tire off.

After I managed to pinch the tube badly while mounting the new tire I bought a new tube and had the local mechanic mount it. He has all the right equipment. I felt better when he struggled some too. (I used to fix tires at my father's service station.)

Harbor freight sells great tire irons. Breaking the bead is a drag,I've done it a lot of different ways. I've used an old bumper jack using the base to break the bead. I've used the jack on my trailer to put pressure on it to break the bead. I've run the edge of the tire with my truck to break the bead. I've used a hand bead breaker of all different designs. None of it as easy as a few bucks and a box of donuts at the tire shop.

PS,
You can usually tell if a guy isn't willing to do his own tire work.
They are the ones who have paint smudged onto the tires of their "restored" tractor.

Having the ability to change your owns tires is becoming a lost art. I have changed rear tractor tires down to very small lawn more tires (small ones are the toughest) If this is something you want the ability to do I would recommend tire irons. I have done them with screw divers and wrecking bars but tough. Living in the rural parts does not provide quick and easy access to tire shops. I will no longer do rear tractor tires and do take stuff to tire shops but I know if for some reason I need to do something on a weekend it can be done. Do agree with the damage that can easily be done especially if you have a trailer queen. I only have one queen in my life and it is not a tractor.

Like Ultradog I used a couple of Wonderbars. Started using a big screwdriver but it was bending the rim. Used the front loader on my subcompact to break the beads.

Reading the responses to you questions has been interesting. I'm 77. I have been breaking down and mounting tires since I was 12 (though not very often anymore). I also worked part time at a service station, while in high school, and repaired tires.
I have healed the beads off of a rim. I have used a manual bead breaker. I have used the bumper jack. I have driven onto the tire with a tractor. Oh yes, and I have gone to the tire store sometimes.
As for tools, I have the original irons that my father started me with and I have bought a couple of new ones. Now, technique (and a little soapy water) comes into play. None of my tools have sharp edges or corners. It is too easy to cut a tube.
Tube tires: Apply some soapy water with a (old or new) paint brush. I step on the tire 180* from the valve and slip the "spoon" end of my dismount iron between the rim and the tire bead near the valve stem. Do NOT go too deep as you can pinch and cut the tube.
When I pull on that iron, the tire bead at 180* moves into the center of the rim. My holding iron now goes in next to the dismount iron to hold the bead outside the rim.
Now move the dismount iron about 3 or 4 inches away from the holding iron and insert it again between the rim and tie tire fead. Pry the bead up over the rim. Usually by then you just keep moving 3 or 4 inches around the rim prying the tire bead out. Just past half way around, the rest of the bead should easliy slide out.
Now, reach in and pull the tube valve stem out of the rim and remove the tube.
Flip the tire and rim over and use the irons to pull the second bead off of the rim. On 14, 15 and 16 inch rims I have leaned the tire against my legs to pry off the second bead and using both irons, I pry the rim out of the tire and away from me.
All of that said, the condition of the tire and the rim can adversely affect the ease of removing a tire. RUST! UGH!

Local tire shop here $10.00 per tire. Worth every dime to me. Takes him less than 10 mins. It would take me a lot longer

Local chain tire stores will break down a tube type tire but will NOT assemble one. For someone not knowing what to do that can also be frustrating. Might have luck finding a farm that has their own tire machine. I know a couple.