2009 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 258

Driving tips 8-11 to an accident. Your vehicle is equipped with "all season tires" as original equipment, which are designed to provide an adequate measure of traction, handling and braking performance in year-round driving. In winter, it may be possible to enhance performance through use of tires designed specifically for winter driving conditions. When you choose to install winter tires on your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire size and type. You must install four winter tires that are of the same size, construction, brand and load range and you should never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires since this may result in dangerous handling characteristics. When you choose a tire, make sure that there is enough clearance between the tire and vehicle body. Remember to drive with care at all times regardless of the type of tires on your vehicle. & Tire chains CAUTION Tire chains cannot be used on tires listed in the following because of lack of clearance between the tires and vehicle body. All models: P215/65R16 and P225/55R17 tires. Loading your vehicle WARNING . Never allow passengers to ride on a folded rear seatback or in the cargo area. Doing so may result in serious injury. . Never stack luggage or other cargo higher than the top of the seatback because it could tumble forward and injure passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident. Keep luggage or cargo low, as close to the floor as possible. & Rocking the vehicle If you must rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move the selector lever back and forth between "D" and "R" repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For the best possible traction, avoid spinning the wheels when trying to free the vehicle. When the road surface is extremely slippery, you can obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with the transmission in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT). Refer to the "Selection of manual mode" section in chapter 7 for information on holding the transmission in 2nd position. - CONTINUED -