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•Add particular accessories to your vehicle (e.g.; bug deflectors,
rollbars or light bars, running boards, ski racks).
•Drive with the wheels out of alignment.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of
the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall.
Note:Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause internal
transmission damage.
Note:Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. Wet
brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
286Driving Hints
2014 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
Page 370 of 586

Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive, there is always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove the wheel and replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the
nearest repair facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you are driving, the wheels may
be out of alignment. Have an authorized dealer check the wheel
alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by an authorized dealer.
Front-wheel drive vehicles and those with an independent rear
suspension may require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask an authorized dealer to check
for and correct any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical
problem involved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire and
wheel assembly. A dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly is defined as
a spare tire or wheel that is different in brand, size or appearance from
the road tires and wheels. If you have a dissimilar spare tire and wheel
assembly, it is intended for temporary use only and should not be used
in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
scheduled maintenance information) will help your tires wear more
evenly, providing better tire performance and longer tire life.
Wheels and Tires369
2014 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
Page 585 of 586

Setting a destination ................530
Setting a destination by
voice ...........................................531
Settings ......................................516
Setting the clock ...............402, 516
Side air curtain ...........................57
Side-curtain airbags system .......57
SIRIUS® satellite radio ....402, 484
SIRIUS satellite radio voice
commands .................................486
SIRIUS Travel Link ...................508
SIRIUS Travel Link voice
commands .................................510
Snowplowing ...............................15
SOS Post Crash Alert .................50
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................385, 391
Special notice
ambulance conversions ............15
utility-type vehicles ..................15
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................387
Stability system .........................225
Starting your vehicle ................190
jump starting ..........................291
push button start system .......189
Steering wheel ............................90
controls ......................................92
tilting .........................................90
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) (see airbags) ....................51
Supported media file types ......494
Supported player, media
formats and metadata
information ................................494SYNC® customer
support ..............................419, 468
SYNC® Services ................443, 505
System settings .........................519
T
Temperature control
(see Climate
control) ..............144, 146, 148, 527
Text messaging .................430, 500
Text messaging (sending,
downloading, deleting) .....431, 433
Third-row power fold seat .......176
Tilt steering wheel ......................90
Tires ...........................355–356, 376
alignment ................................369
care ..........................................354
changing ..........................376, 378
checking the pressure ............365
inflating ...................................363
label .........................................362
replacing ..................................367
rotating ....................................369
safety practices .......................368
sidewall information ...............358
snow tires and chains ............370
spare tire .................................376
terminology .............................357
tire grades ...............................356
treadwear ........................356, 365
Touchscreen features
(climate) ....................................527
Towing .......................275, 282–283
recreational towing .................283
trailer towing ..........................275
wrecker ....................................282
Traction control ........................223
584Index
2014 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)