An elevator system includes a hoistway and an elevator car (12) suspended in the hoistway via one or more suspension members (46). A counterweight (22) is suspended in the hoistway via the one or more suspension members (46) to balance operation of the elevator car (12). A traction sheave (24) is located in the hoistway to drive the one or more suspension members (46) along the hoistway via traction with frictional contact between the traction sheave (24) and the one or more suspension members (46), thus driving motion of the elevator car (12) and/or counterweight (22) along the hoistway. One or more diverters (66) are positioned in the hoistway in operable contact with the one or more diverters (66). The one or more diverters (46) are configured and positioned to define a wrap angle (68) of the one or more diverters (66) about the traction sheave (24); the wrap angle (68) being between 180 degrees and 360 degrees.
