Rubber Tire Traction Mat Set - Mud, Sand & Snow Recovery (Pair)

A Tire Traction Mat for Getting Unstuck

This is a pair of rubber tire traction mats, built for the moment your tires start spinning in mud, sand, snow, or a soft patch of ground and just won't grab. If you drive somewhere that gets soft or slick often enough that getting stuck has happened more than once, this is the kind of thing worth keeping in the trunk before you need it rather than after.

How It Works

The idea is simple: when a tire loses traction because the ground underneath it is too soft or slick to grip, you place the mat directly in front of (or behind, depending on which way you're trying to move) the spinning tire, in the direction you want the car to travel. The textured rubber surface gives the tire something firm to bite into instead of just digging deeper into mud or sand, and the tire's own tread pattern grabs the mat and pulls the car forward off whatever it was stuck in. It's a low-tech solution, but it works because it addresses the actual problem — a lack of grip — rather than trying to power through it. It's the same basic idea behind traction in general — a tire needs a firm surface to push against, and soft ground simply doesn't give it one until you provide it artificially.

What You're Getting

This listing includes a pair of traction mats, made of rubber and sized at approximately 55 by 15 centimeters (about 21.65 by 5.91 inches) each. They're built to fold flat for storage, so once you've cleaned off the mud, sand, or snow, they pack down small enough to keep in a trunk, truck bed, or under a seat without taking up much space. Two mats are included so you can use one under each drive wheel if your vehicle is stuck with both tires on one axle spinning at once.

Where This Works Best

These mats are designed for soft ground — mud, loose sand, snow, and similar surfaces where a tire spins because it can't find anything solid to grip. They're not designed for hard or rocky terrain, and pushing them into a use they're not built for can cause the rubber to crack rather than do its job. If you're regularly dealing with situations tougher than soft ground and snow — deep rock crawling or technical off-road terrain, for example — you'd be better served by heavier-duty traction boards built for that kind of abuse, and these mats aren't a substitute for that.

How to Use Them

Once a tire is spinning without moving the vehicle, stop applying throttle first — continuing to spin a tire just digs it deeper and can fling mud or sand everywhere, including at you. Clear away as much loose material from in front of the tire as you reasonably can, then wedge the mat under and slightly in front of the tire, angled in the direction you want to go. Ease back onto the throttle gently rather than flooring it; a slow, steady application of power gives the tire the best chance of gripping the mat instead of just spinning it out from underneath itself. Once you're moving, keep going until you're clear of the soft patch entirely rather than stopping partway and getting stuck again.

Storage and Care

After use, these mats should be folded up once they've been cleaned off — mud and sand left to dry into the rubber will make them harder to fold and can shorten their usable life over time. A quick hose-down or wipe-down before tossing them back in the trunk keeps them ready to go the next time you need them, which is usually not a moment you get much advance warning for.

Specifications

• Type: Rubber tire traction mat, sold as a pair
• Material: Rubber
• Size: Approximately 55 x 15 cm (21.65 x 5.91 in) each
• Recommended surfaces: Mud, sand, snow, and other soft or loose ground
• Storage: Folds flat
• Condition: New

Why Keep a Set On Hand

Getting stuck is rarely convenient, and waiting for a tow or flagging down help isn't always an option depending on where you are. A set of traction mats costs a lot less than a tow bill and takes up very little space, which makes them one of those items that's easy to overlook until the one time you actually need it and don't have it. For anyone who drives off paved roads with any regularity — whether that's a gravel driveway that turns to mud in the rain or actual off-road trails — it's cheap insurance to keep in the vehicle.

Ordering Information

This traction mat set is in stock and ships as a pair, ready to toss in your trunk or truck bed. Our Shipping Information page covers current timelines, and our Warranty and Returns pages explain what to do if anything isn't right when it arrives.

Related Products

These mats sit in our off-road and 4x4 collection alongside other recovery and off-road gear, including our winch-plate front bumper for Wrangler JK/JL if you're building out a rig for regular off-road use, and our broader towing and trailer collection for other recovery-related equipment.