New front tires?

[pinehillian]

Hey all,

I'm looking to buy 2 front tires. I would like to buy cub tires if available. How much trouble is there, to mount them myself, or cant I? Any suggestions,

Thanks

[Carpetbagger]

My experience has been that the smaller the tire the tougher they are to mount. If the beads won't reach the rim after mounting (not allowing the tire to inflate) try wrapping a strap around the middle of the tire tread and squeezing the tread in and the outer edges out toward the rim's edge. Harbor Freight sells a mini tire mount/dismount machine for around $40 that can help in some instances. Depending on where you buy your tires, I would ask if the price includes mounting and act surprised if it doesn't. You can get it, but your time becomes worth about 20 cents an hour. Good luck. Carpetbagger

[pinehillian]

ya i agree the smaller the harderer, probly buy online, i guess take them somewhere to get mounted, no point buyin rims,

[RLause]

Here is the link to some I bought awhile back.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TWO-16X6-50...72.m2749.l2649

They were $50.00, I'm 81 years old, mounted them by myself and I am well pleased.

[Cub Cadet 123]

What size rims do you have on the front of your cub? I like the skinnies (4's) on the front with the tri-rib tires. It gives it the large tractor look, they are inexpensive ($40 for the pair last time I bought them at Miller Tire), they work on all types of terrain, including snow, and they improve the ease of steering for tractors without power steering. I measured one time and the uninstalled surface area that is on the ground is about 1 square inch.

Cub Cadet 123

[ironman]

Obviously you've never done it before or you wouldn't ask, but the answer is this.....
The first time, you will want to pull your hair out, it ain't easy, but the more times you do it and develop your tecniques, the easier it becomes (but never real easy).
I mount all my own tires, fronts and rears. I do have the above mentioned Harbor Freight mini changer. It helps alot getting the old tires off, not so much putting new ones on.
The skinny fronts are easy to work with, wide ones can be a bit@# to break the bead if they are rusted to the rims.
Putting anything back on requires lots of some kind of slickum, the more the better.
If you are figuring this is a one time situation then you are better off paying someone to do it.

[IHinIN]

Changing tires isn’t nearly as frustrating as stuffing tubes into small tires. That will make you want to punt them into the driveway. I have the HF tire changer also but I’ve only used it once on a 18/8.5/10 tire. It made quick work of removing and installing the tire. Clamping it to a piece of 2” tube in my truck hitch put it at a good working height.

[Mike McKown]

The small 8' tires are hard to hold when mounting/dismounting the tires. So I use a long bolt in my bench vise with a nut tightened down on the wheel to hold it stead while I flip the tire beads off/on

I also have a HF bead breaker. These little tires are hard to break down sometimes. HF also sells a nice chrome plated tire iron for about $6.

Use rubber lube or brake fluid to lubricate the beads before going on or off.

[jbrewer]

Like most of my quality work, I do mine on the floor on a piece of cardboard.
Some good soapy water, 3 or 4 screwdrivers and a willingness to get dirty are good to have on hand.

Stuffing tubes in? Again, put soapy water on everything and they go in pretty easy.

Did I mention "Soapy water"?

Break the bead? Put a 2x12 by about 2' long on the very edge of the bead (NOT the rim). Slowly drive truck onto the 2x12.

[Mike McKown]

As far as tires, I like the four ply type. Wear better and steer easier. You can find a pair of fronts on the web for about $40 and free shipping.

I just got a set of tri-ribs on a tractor I bought. Haven't used them but they should make steering a lot easier if you don't have PS.