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Winter's not over yet. Characteristic of January and February, there are snow showers and cold temperatures ahead. If you live in East Palestine, Ohio (or anywhere within the tri-state area of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), you might be wondering if it's worth installing a set of winter tires if you haven't already.

To date, the 2023-2024 winter season has been mild compared to others. The US Department of Health and Human Services predicts that our area will see lower than average levels of precipitation and relatively moderate to low winter weather, ice storms, and cold waves through February. That said, the counties above us are at a relatively high risk while other surrounding areas are at low risk.

But when has a weather forecast ever been completely right, and are there other factors to consider?

Should I Install Winter Tires Mid-Season?

You might have heard it's a good idea to install winter tires in October or before Thanksgiving. For years, these have been traditionally busy months for seasonal tire swaps. But with climate changes, it's not easy to predict year-to-year what time might be the best for a winter tire changeover. Waiting until the first big storm can be inconvenient if you had plans that week. If everyone around you waits for that storm, it might also be tough to get your vehicle into a tire shop before it hits. Putting winter tires on too soon can also be frustrating if the weather is warmer than usual. Winter tires are typically designed for temperatures under 45 °F and won't perform as well in non-winter conditions.

More instances of mild winters over the years means some motorists wait deeper into the season before changing tires. In some instances, they may not swap their seasonal tires at all. However, January and February remain prime months for snow storms to hit and for the temperature to be consistently low enough for winter tires.

Temperature changes are important with tires, and while you should check your air pressure routinely regardless of which type of tires you install, this deserves extra emphasis if you still have all-season tires installed. Otherwise, expect to see a bright and shiny Tire Pressure Monitoring System light at some point due to low pressure in one or more of your tires. The cause around this time of the year is often due to temperature changes but it could also be due to a flat. Most vehicles have a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System that won't provide the specifics, so get air in all of them and if the light comes on again too soon, have them checked.

With the temperature outside being well below 45 °F in East Palestine, Ohio, it's not unreasonable to do your changeover mid-winter if you've been waiting. Otherwise, be prepared to call off work, catch a ride, or stay inside if the roads get bad. One item to keep in mind: if you are a caregiver for a child or older parent, you may want to schedule a winter tire changeover every year in case you find yourself needing to make a trip unexpectedly. The more people who rely on your driving, the better it might be to do that swap, whether you wait for the first big storm or toward the end of November, or now.

The decision to install winter tires in January or February is up to you but you won't hear us advise against winter tire preparation at Tom's Tires. So if you're up for a winter tire changeover in East Palestine, OH, contact us and we'll get your seasonal winter tires installed. We also have a great selection of winter tires available for purchase if you need a new set.