A method and system for predicting the condition of a road to be travelled by a vehicle includes a measurement device, such as a laser or machine vision system, disposed at a front of the vehicle for measuring a vertical elevation of a portion of the road at a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle. A control unit, in communication with the measurement device, has control logic for predicting the condition of the road to be travelled by the vehicle based on the measured vertical elevation and controlling an aspect of the vehicle, such as the vehicle's suspension system, based on the predicted road condition.