An elevator may include: a hoisting machine; a set of hoisting ropes; a traction sheave that comprises a plurality of grooves; and diverting pulleys. The hoisting machine may engage the set of ropes via the traction sheave. Each groove may have an opening for receiving an individual rope. Each rope may include steel wires of circular, non-circular, or circular and non-circular cross-section, twisted together to form strands. The strands of each rope may be twisted together to form the respective rope. A thickness of each rope may be greater than or equal to about 2.5 mm and less than or equal to about 8 mm. An average of wire thicknesses of the steel wires may be greater than or equal to 0.1 mm and less than or equal to 0.4 mm. The strength of the steel wires may be greater than 2,300 N/mm.sup.2 and less than 3,000 N/mm.sup.2.

A suspension arrangement and guide shoe arrangement of an elevator, which arrangement comprises at least an elevator car and at least two compensating weights, which are for their part connected to support the elevator car by the aid of at least two suspension members, such as by the aid of ropes or belts, and also by the aid of diverting pulleys, and a hoisting machine provided with at least one traction sheave or corresponding, as well as at least two traction members, such as belts, ropes or chains, separate from the suspension members, which traction members are configured to transmit the rotational movement of the traction sheave into movement of the elevator car and of the compensating weights. There are at least four guide rails of the elevator car and they are fitted into an elevator hoistway symmetrically to each other in relation to the elevator car.