Subaru 1998 Forester Owner's Manual page 187

Starting and operating
HS0113
All wheel drive distributes the engine power to all four wheels. AWD
vehicles provide better traction when driving on slippery, wet or snow-
covered roads and when moving out of mud, dirt and sand. By shifting
power between the front and rear wheels, SUBARU AWD can also pro-
vide added traction during acceleration and added engine braking force
during deceleration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle may handle differently than an
ordinary two wheel drive vehicle and it contains some features unique to
AWD. For safety purposes as well as to avoid damaging the AWD sys-
tem, you should keep the following tips in mind:
D An AWD vehicle is better able to climb steeper roads under snowy or
slippery conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle. There is little differ-
ence in handling, however, during extremely sharp turns or sudden brak-
ing. Therefore, when driving down a slope or turning corners, be sure to
reduce your speed and maintain an ample distance from other vehicles.
D When replacing a tire, make sure you use only the same size, construc-
tion, brand, and load range as the original tires listed on the tire placard.
Using other sizes or construction may result in severe mechanical dam-
age to the drive train of your vehicle and may affect ride, handling, brak-
ing, speedometer/odometer calibration, and clearance between the body
and tires. It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control.
D Always check the cold tire pressure before starting to drive. The rec-
ommended tire pressure is provided on the tire placard, which is located
under the door latch on the driver's side.
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