Ford FOCUS RS 2017 Owner's Manual Supplement page 16

Major mismatched tire or wheel sizes
between the front and rear axles, for
example 18 inch low profile tires on the
front axle and 20 inch high profile tires on
the rear axle could cause the system to
default to front-wheel drive only mode.
Damage to the system can occur that may
not covered by the vehicle Warranty.
The system can tolerate any combination
of new and worn tires of the same original
tire size. For example, using three worn
tires and one new tire.
Driving in Special Conditions
Your vehicle is capable of being driven on
sand, snow, mud or a loose surface.
However the operating characteristics are
different from conventional off-road
vehicles.
Note: Under severe operating conditions,
the air conditioning may turn on and off to
protect the engine from overheating.
Basic Operating Principles
WARNING
Be extremely careful when driving on
road surfaces that are made slippery
by loose sand, water, gravel, snow or
ice. Failure to adhere to this warning could
result in the loss of vehicle control, serious
personal injury or death.
Emergency Maneuvers
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
road, slow down but avoid severe brake
application, only ease the vehicle back
onto the road after reducing your speed.
Do not turn the steering wheel too sharply
while returning to the road surface. It may
be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder
of the road and slow down gradually
before returning to the road surface. You
may lose control if you do not slow down
or if you turn the steering wheel too
2017 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, HM5J 19A285 DA enUSA, Edition date: 201611, First Printing
All-Wheel Drive
sharply. It may be better to strike small
objects, for example highway reflectors,
with minor damage to your vehicle rather
than attempt a sudden return to the road
surface, which could cause your vehicle to
slide sideways out of control or rollover.
Remember, your safety and the safety of
others should be your primary concern.
In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be made,
remember to avoid over-driving your
vehicle. Only turn the steering wheel as
rapidly and as far as required. Excessive
steering results in less vehicle control, not
more. Additionally, smooth variations of
the accelerator or brake pedal pressure
should be utilized if changes in vehicle
speed are required. Avoid abrupt steering,
acceleration or braking which could result
in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, rollover and personal injury. Use
all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
If your vehicle goes from one surface type
to another, for example from concrete to
gravel, there will be a change in the way
your vehicle responds to steering,
acceleration or braking.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it
may be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
switching traction control off may be
beneficial while attempting to rock your
vehicle.
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WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at over
35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may fail
and injure a passenger or bystander.