Winter Essentials

Mud-Terrain or All-Terrain Tires with Snow Rating: Tires with a snowflake/mountain symbol ensure better traction in snow. Nitto Ridge Grappler or Nitto Terra Grappler G2: Both provide excellent traction in snowy and icy conditions, with aggressive tread patterns and siping for enhanced grip.

Removing air from your tires helps to create a larger contact patch between the rubber and the road surface, which significantly increases traction and has the added benefit of smoothing out a bumpy ride. This process is called airing down. In a pinch it can be accomplished by depressing your tires valve stem core with a stick or small screwdriver, but ideally would be performed with a tool like the ARB Tire Deflator. Before you go deflating your tires, make sure that you have a portable or onboard air compressor available to re-pressurize your tires when you get back to pavement.

NACHO Lights: Powerful LED lighting systems like the Nacho TM5 provide outstanding illumination for snowy trails. ARB Intensity Solis Driving Lights: High-output LEDs designed for cutting through foggy or snowy conditions.

Winch: A reliable winch ensures you can self-recover from deep snow. Snatch Straps and D-Shackles: For towing assistance when needed. Traction Boards: Recovery boards such as the ARB TRED Pro are perfect for gaining traction in icy or slushy conditions.

Install front and rear-rated recovery points for safe winching or towing. Unlike stock tow hooks or tie-down points, which are often not rated for the forces involved in recovery, dedicated recovery points are engineered to handle the significant stress that occurs during off-road recoveries.

Insulated boots, gloves, and waterproof gear to stay warm and dry.

Nitto tires like the Ridge Grappler are great, but for extreme conditions, add snow chains to maximize traction.

Pack a first aid kit, thermal blankets, extra food, water, and a portable heater for safety in cold conditions.

Use GPS systems or offline trail maps to avoid getting lost. Carry a two-way radio or satellite communicator for communication in remote areas.

A durable snow shovel for clearing snow and digging out tires.