Hoist Ropes With the advent of high rise elevators and increased car speeds, elevator designers and manufacturers frequently select a higher strength hoist rope. The grade of steel (traction, extra high strength traction) is dependent upon many factors, the most critical being load requirement and car speed. It is not always advantageous to use an EHS traction rope where traction will suffice. The low carbon wire used on traction grade wire ropes may provide better fatigue life than a higher carbon EHS wire.