Pothole Season is Here: A Service Advisor’s Guide to Saving Your Tires

By Service Advisor, Joe Anderson | Published 3-16-26

Look, I've been behind this service desk for a long time, and I can tell you that Minnesota pothole season is the busiest time of year for a reason. Those craters on I-94 or the backroads outside of Fergus Falls aren't just bumps in the road. They are precision-killers for your front end.

When you hit a deep one, it's a violent event for your suspension. Here is what I tell my customers when they come into Nelson Auto wondering if their truck is actually damaged.

Is it a Bad Tire or a Bad Alignment?

I get this question a lot. People feel a shake or a pull and aren't sure if they need a new tire or a trip to the alignment rack. Here is how you can tell the difference before you even pull into the shop:

• The "Wander" vs. The "Vibration": If the truck wants to wander toward the ditch when you let go of the wheel, that is almost always an alignment issue. If the steering wheel is shaking or "shimming" in your hands but the truck is staying relatively straight, you likely have a damaged tire or a lost wheel weight.

• Visual Tread Clues: Look at your tires. If the tread is wearing perfectly flat but is just getting low, that's a tire reaching its end of life. If one side of the tire looks brand new while the other side is bald or "feathered," that is a classic alignment problem.

• The Pothole Impact: If you hit a hole and the steering wheel is suddenly crooked, your alignment was knocked out of spec. If you hit a hole and now there is a "thump-thump" sound or a bulge in the sidewall, you have a bad tire.

The 5-Point Pothole Patrol Checklist

Before your next drive, run through this quick mental check:

1. Centered Logo: Is the wheel straight while the truck is straight?

2. No Drift: Does the vehicle track true on a flat road?

3. Smooth Tread: Is there any jagged wear on the tire edges?

4. Quiet Suspension: Are there any new clunks or rattles over bumps?

5. No Shimmy: Is the steering wheel free of vibrations at highway speeds?

Why You Shouldn't Wait

I see people try to "tough it out" until their next oil change, but that usually costs them more in the long run.

1. You'll Kill Your Tires: A bad alignment can ruin a brand new set of tires in just a few weeks. A $100 alignment check is a lot cheaper than an $1,500+ set of rubber.

2. Fuel Mileage: When your wheels aren't pointing the same way, it creates drag. It's like trying to run with your toes pointed inward. Your engine has to work harder, and you'll see it at the gas pump.

3. Safety: In a panic stop or on a wet road, a misaligned truck won't track straight. That's a safety issue I don't want any of our neighbors dealing with.

The Nelson Auto Process

When you bring your vehicle to us, we don't just eyeball it. We put it on our computerized rack to measure your specs against the factory requirements. We'll give you a printout showing exactly where you were "in the red" and how we got you back "into the green."