Best Winter Lift Kits for the 1987-1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ

The best winter lift kits for the 1987-1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ add 2.5 to 4 inches of height so you can run 31 to 33-inch snow tires, clear plowed berms, and keep your axles above packed snow and slush. Because every YJ rides on leaf springs at all four corners, a lift here is mostly about fresh, taller springs and longer shackles — parts that also cure the tired, saggy ride that plagues a 30-year-old Jeep heading into its next salt season. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we built this guide around four kits we actually stock and ship, ranging from about $124 to $733, so you can match lift height, ride quality, and budget to how you drive in winter.

Why Lift a Jeep Wrangler YJ for Winter?

A lift kit improves winter capability by raising ground clearance and making room for taller, more aggressive tires. A stock 1987-1995 YJ sits on roughly 29-inch tires (P215/75R15) with about 8 inches of clearance under the axles. That is fine on pavement but marginal once snow packs into ruts or you need to climb a plow berm at the end of a driveway. A 2.5-inch suspension lift clears up to 31-inch tires; a 3.5-inch lift comfortably fits 32s; and a 4-inch lift opens the door to 33-inch tires with minor trimming. Bigger tires put more siped rubber and taller sidewall on the snow, and the extra clearance keeps the solid Dana 30 front and rear axle out of the drifts.

There is an honest caveat worth stating up front: a lift does not add traction by itself. Clearance and tire size help you float over and clear obstacles, but grip on ice and packed snow comes from the tire compound and tread. Pair any of these kits with a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rated winter or all-terrain tire for the real-world cold-weather gain. The lift is what lets that tire fit.

How We Picked These YJ Lift Kits

We ranked these four kits on four things that matter for a winter YJ build: confirmed 1987-1995 YJ fitment, honest lift height versus tire clearance, ride quality on cold, broken pavement, and value. Three are true suspension lifts (new springs that raise the chassis and gain real axle clearance) and one is a body lift (spacer blocks that raise the tub for tire clearance only). All four are in stock, backed by manufacturer warranties, and priced between roughly $124 and $733. The YJ uses leaf springs front and rear, so every suspension kit here works by replacing or supplementing those springs and swapping to longer shackles — there are no coil spacers or struts on this platform.

Best Overall Value: Tuff Country 3.5in EZ-Ride Lift Kit

The Tuff Country 3.5in EZ-Ride kit is the best all-around winter lift for the 1987-1995 YJ. It delivers 3.5 inches of lift, clears 32-inch tires, and uses Tuff Country's EZ-Ride spring design for a controlled ride both loaded and empty — all for about $293, the lowest price of any complete suspension kit here. Tuff Country has engineered leaf-sprung Jeep lifts since 1988 and backs this kit with a limited lifetime warranty on the springs, which is reassuring on a Jeep that will see years of road salt.

Smoothest Ride: Skyjacker 2.5in Softride Kit

If your YJ is a daily winter driver, the Skyjacker 2.5in Softride kit is the one to buy. Skyjacker's Softride leaf springs are tuned to keep factory-like ride quality while still clearing 31-inch tires, and the kit ships complete with matched shocks, mounting hardware, and detailed instructions. At around $599 it costs more than the Tuff Country, but the payoff is a quieter, more compliant ride over frost heaves and salted, pothole-ridden roads — exactly where a cheap, stiff spring beats you up all winter.

Most Clearance: Skyjacker 4in Softride Kit

For the deepest snow, serious trail duty, or a 33-inch tire build, the Skyjacker 4in Softride kit gives the most clearance of any kit here. Four inches of suspension lift plus a 33-inch tire adds roughly 2 inches of real axle clearance over stock and dramatically improves approach and departure angles for climbing plow berms and breaking through drifts. Like the 2.5in version it uses Softride springs and matched shocks for a controlled ride, and at about $733 it is the premium pick for owners who want to run big winter tires. Budget for a longer front brake line, an extended front sway-bar disconnect or links, and a transfer-case drop or slip-yoke consideration at this height.

Budget Pick: Zone Offroad 3in Body Lift

The Zone Offroad 3in Body Lift is the cheapest way to make room for taller winter tires, at about $124. Instead of new springs, it uses crush-proof blocks rated to 60,000 pounds that raise the body 3 inches off the frame, opening the wheel wells for up to 31-inch tires. The kit includes transfer-case and transmission shifter-linkage relocation and a steering-correction component so the Jeep still drives right. Be clear on the tradeoff: a body lift raises the tub for tire clearance but does not lift the axles, so it adds no ground clearance under the differentials. For many winter drivers who just want to fit a taller tire affordably, that is a fair trade — and you can always add a suspension spring lift later.

Jeep Wrangler YJ Winter Lift Kit Comparison

Here is how the four kits stack up on lift height, lift type, who each one is best for, and price. Click any product name or price to see current pricing and availability.

What Else You Need for a YJ Winter Lift

Budget for the supporting parts that make a lift safe and quiet in winter. On a 30-plus-year-old YJ, worn spring and shackle bushings sap ride quality, so a polyurethane bushing set is cheap insurance to install while the suspension is apart. Taller lifts need a longer front brake line and extended sway-bar links or a front disconnect; at 4 inches, plan on addressing driveline angle with a transfer-case drop. Finally, re-torque the U-bolts after the first 100 miles and get a four-wheel alignment — leaf-sprung Jeeps are sensitive to caster, and correct caster is what keeps the steering from wandering on slick, rutted winter roads.