Abstract: An emergency vehicle traction device for improving the traction of an automobile wheel having laterally communicating hub apertures. The device comprises a traction member preferably comprising a chain for improvement of the wheel's traction, a flexible rope or strap for wrapping around the inside of the wheel and through a hub aperture, and a novel fastener member for holding the traction device in place on the wheel. The fastener member comprises one or more rope binding channels and one or more rope binder adapted to bind a free end of the rope member, and thereby to hold the traction device securely in place. A preferred embodiment of the traction device further comprises a retrieval tool adapted to pass through the hub aperture and to draw the free end of the rope through the wheel by engaging an eye provided on the free end of the rope. No more than two or three traction devices according to the disclosure are needed to move a vehicle out of even the worst predicaments.