1996 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 269

Driving Your Explorer Driving in Bad Weather Slippery roads Drive cautiously on wet or snowy roads: s Do not quickly move the steering wheel unless necessary. s Drive slower than you normally would. s Give your vehicle more distance to stop. s Pump the brake pedal steadily and evenly to avoid locking your front wheels (except with 4WABS). s To stop on ice, shift to N (Neutral) below 10 mph (15 km/h) and gently pump brakes (except with 4WABS). s Consider using one of the lower gears. s For 4x4 vehicles, engage 4WD, and try to drive slowly away. RWARNING To avoid losing control on slippery roads, do not downshift into Low with the automatic transmission when moving faster than 20 mph (32 km/h). Do not downshift into First with the manual transmission when moving faster than 5 mph (8 km/h). Traction-Lok Rear Axle (If equipped) This axle provides added drive away traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when one or more wheels are on a surface with poor traction. Extended use of other than matching size tires on a Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving and should not be noticeable to the driver. 269