Traction enhancement device for motor vehicle tires

A traction enhancement device for a tire of a vehicle, the tire being mounted to a rim of a wheel, the tire having a periphery for providing rollable contact with a surface supporting the periphery, said traction enhancement device comprising:

• an elongated singular piece of flexible material, comprising:
• a traction member having a first end and an opposite second end, said traction member having an engagement surface located between said first and second ends, said engagement surface having irregular contour means for grippably engaging a surface in contact therewith;
• a first strap integrally connected with said first end of said traction member, said first strap having a first side and an opposite second side;
• and
• a second strap integrally connected with said second end of said traction member;
• and
• ratcheting connection means for ratchetably connecting said first strap to said second strap, wherein said ratchet connection means comprises:
• said first strap having a series of ramped serrations on at least said first side thereof;
• and
• said second strap having a sleeve connected thereto, said sleeve being dimensioned to slidably receive thereinto said first strap, said sleeve being provided with a detent, said detent engaging said series of ramped serrations to thereby cause said first sleeve to slide in only one direction with respect to said sleeve;
• wherein said first strap, said second strap and said traction member are structured to collectively cross-sectionally encircle a tire and the rim of a wheel to which the tire is mounted so that said engagement surface is adjacent to and faces directly away from the periphery of the tire, said ratcheting connection means ratchetably connecting said first strap to said second strap to thereby secure said traction member to the periphery of the tire.