1998 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 188

D Tire chains should always be placed on the front wheels only. D There are some precautions that you must observe when towing your vehicle. For detail information, see the Towing section in chapter 8. Off road driving D Always maintain a safe driving speed according to the road and weather conditions in order to avoid having an accident on a sharp turn, during sudden braking or under other similar conditions. D Always use the utmost care in driving - overconfidence because you are driving an all wheel drive vehicle could easily lead to a serious accident. Because of the AWD feature and higher ground clearance, your Subaru can be driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But please keep in mind that an AWD Subaru is a passenger car and is neither a conventional off-road vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do take your Subaru off-road, certain common sense precautions such as the following should be taken: D Make certain that you and all of your passengers are wearing seat belts. D Carry some emergency equipment, such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel, wheel blocks, first aid kit and portable phone or citizens band radio. D Drive carefully. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous areas or over rough terrain. D Slow down and employ extra caution at all times. When driving offroad, you will not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and the like. D Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead, drive either straight up or straight down the slopes. A vehicle can much more easily tip over sideways than it can when moving forward or backward. Avoid driving straight up or down slopes that are too steep. WARNING 7-34