If I lift it it ll b 2". What does a lift that height entails? I'm looking to replace shocks soon and I was looking at bastard lifts.
The only reason to lift it is to clear bigger tires. You are gonna get half (actually less) more axle clearance with bigger tires which isn't really gonna help much if any in the snow. I've run my XJ through snow so deep it packed the radiator with snow and I started to overheat. A couple/few inches really isn't gonna help much and just raises your center of gravity which actually detracts from stability. The higher the center of gravity the worse it is gonna handle in the snow. The only plus to bigger tires is ramp angle of the tire and a little more clearance on the chassis.
You have to go way wide on the tire to get any floatation, thinner tires help you find the bottom better and give you more PSI on the tire contact patch (traction).
IMO you'd be better off studying your anticipated road conditions and trying to get the best tire match you can for the conditions. If you are gonna need to use chains you are gonna need a stock tire (size) anyway to clear.
I tried chains on my 9.50 X 30 tires front and rear, both ends rubbed. The fronts were almost catastrophic when the chain caught on the LCA.
I've got about an inch and half of lift in the back and an inch in the front. HD rear springs with a full length add a leafs in the rear and fresh HD fronts with a 3/4 inch spacer in my 88. Works well in the mud. My stock 96 works better in the ice and snow with 225 X 60 X 16 Goodrich AT's, Bilstein shocks. I have another set of tires for the rear with chains already installed, I throw in the back when things start looking bad. Chains will tear up your tires if you use them often.
Massachusetts allows studs which really help on icy roads.
One thing a lot of people forget is 4X will sure enough get you farther in inclimate weather, but 4X sure doesn't help you stop (brake) any better. You see it all the time, people get emboldened with the extra traction of 4X and forget about the braking distances. The ratio around here is about 4 to 1, regular cars and trucks and 4 X's. You see about about a fifty fifty split on who kisses the guardrail first in the snow. Short wheelbase 4X's tend to do worse than longer wheelbase 4X's, by my count and observations, they tend to swap ends easier when the drivers get in over their heads and forget bout their brake pedal and only think about the gas pedal.
A good set of shocks and good front sway bar links are a real plus, sway doesn't help any in ice and snow.
I've had one fender bender in 50 plus years of ice and snow driving. And that was driving off the highway on purpose dodging a semi truck and trailer who lost control. I must be doing something right. Thats not saying I haven't had some butt clenching moments, but I always managed to get out of them without catastrophe.