5-89
Dri
ving y
our v
ehicle
5
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are
going fast enough, your vehicle may have
little or no contact with the road surface
and actually ride on the water. The best
advice is SLOW DOWN when the road is
wet.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the depth of tire tread decreases, refer
to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.
Driving in Flooded Areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no high-
er than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be reduced.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
Highway Driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation, as specified.
Under-inflation may overheat or damage
the tires.
Do not install worn-out or damaged tires,
which may reduce traction or adversely
affect vehicle handling. This could lead to
sudden tire failure that may cause loss of
vehicle control resulting in an accident.
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the
maximum inflation pressure, as specified
on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine
oil
Driving at higher speeds on the highway
consumes more fuel and is less efficient
than driving at a slower, more moderate
speed. Maintain a moderate speed in
order to conserve fuel when driving on
the highway.
Be sure to check both the engine coolant
level and the engine oil before driving.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may over-
heat the engine.
i
In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat
belt. Make sure all passengers are
wearing their seat belts.
WARNING