Posted on 1/30/2026
Winter roads can make a good car feel worn out in a hurry. One week it tracks straight, the next week it pulls, wanders, or feels like it never quite settles. Potholes, frost heaves, and ice ruts do more than annoy you. They can knock alignment out of spec, loosen components, and start uneven tire wear that keeps getting louder and rougher as the weeks go by. Why Winter Roads Change How Your Car Drives Alignment angles are measured in small increments, and it does not take much to knock them off. A pothole hit, a curb tap hidden under snow, or dropping into a deep rut can shift things just enough to start scrubbing tire tread. Scrub is what wears tires quickly, and it can also make the steering feel nervous. Winter driving also hides the early signs. On slick surfaces, you’re already making small corrections, so you might not notice the car drifting until you’re back on dry pavement. By then, the tires may have already started wearing unevenly. ... read more