Subaru Forester Manuals 2018 Forester Owner's Manual | Page 446

7-40 Starting and operating/Vehicle Dynamics Control system Vehicle Dynamics Control system WARNING Always use the utmost care in driving – overconfidence because you are driving a vehicle with the Vehicle Dynamics Control system could easily lead to a serious acci- dent. CAUTION . Even if your vehicle is equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Control system, winter tires should be used when driving on snow-cov- ered or icy roads; in addition, vehicle speed should be reduced considerably. Simply having a Vehicle Dynamics Control sys- tem does not guarantee that the vehicle will be able to avoid accidents in any situation. . Activation of the Vehicle Dy- namics Control system is an indication that the road being travelled on has a slippery sur- face; since having Vehicle Dy- namics Control is no guarantee that full vehicle control will be maintained at all times and under all conditions, its activation should be seen as a sign that the speed of the vehicle should be reduced considerably. . Whenever suspension compo- nents, steering components, or an axle are removed from a vehicle, have an inspection of that system performed by an authorized SUBARU dealer. . The following precautions should be observed in order to ensure that the Vehicle Dynamics Con- trol system is operating properly: – All four wheels should be fitted with tires of the same size, type, and brand. Further- more, the amount of wear should be the same for all four tires. – Keep the tire pressure at the proper level as shown on the vehicle placard attached to the driver’s side door pillar. – Use only the specified tem- porary spare tire to replace a flat tire. With a temporary spare tire, the effectiveness of the Vehicle Dynamics Con- trol system is reduced and this should be taken into ac- count when driving the vehi- cle in such a condition. . If non-matching tires are used, the Vehicle Dynamics Control system may not operate cor- rectly. . The Vehicle Dynamics Control system helps prevent unstable vehicle motion such as skidding using control of the brakes and engine power. Do not turn off the Vehicle Dynamics Control sys- tem unless it is absolutely ne- cessary. If you must turn off the Vehicle Dynamics Control sys- tem, drive very carefully accord- ing to the road surface condition. In the event of wheelspin and/or skidding on a slippery road surface and/or during cornering and/or an evasive maneuver, the Vehicle Dynamics Control system adjusts the engine’s output and the wheels’ respective braking forces to help maintain traction and directional control. . Traction Control Function The traction control function is designed to prevent spinning of the driving wheels on