1997 GMC Suburban Owner's Manual - Page 196

While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice orpacked snow on the road to make a "mirrored surface" -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turnsor abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. Off-Road Driving with Your Four- Wheel-Drive Vehicle This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Also, see "Anti-Lock Brakes" in the Index. If your vehicle doesn't have four-wheel drive, you shouldn't drive off-road unless you're on a level, solid surface. Off-road driving can be greatfun. But it does have some definite hazards. The greatestof these is the terrain itself. "Off-roading" means you've left the great North American road system behind. Traffic lanes aren't marked. Curves aren't banked. There are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short, you've gone right back to nature. Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that's why it's very important that you read this guide. You'll find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. Driving Guidelines This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined as utility a vehicle in Consumer Information Regulations issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation. Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them higher center of a gravity than ordinary cars.An advantage of the higher ground clearance is better view of the road allowing you a to anticipate problems. They not designed for are cornering at the sarne speeds as conventional two-wheel-drive vehiclesany more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road