PURPOSE: To produce a wire with which high strength is easily attained and having practical strength, in a steel wire with a pearlitic structure having a specified compsn. constituted of C, Si, Mn, Cr, V, Nb and iron.

CONSTITUTION: In a steel wire with a pearlitic structure having a compsn. contg., by weight, 0.7 to 1.0% C, ≤1.0% Si, ≤0.7% Mn, ≤0.5% Cr and/or 0.02 to 1.0% V and/or Nb, and the balance iron with inevitable impurities, the carbide of V or Nb with ≤0.1μm size is precipitated into ferrite by 0.05 to 1.0vol.% to obtain a high strength steel wire with which high strength can be attained even at a low draft. This steel wire is produced by holding the wire having the same componental compsn. at 950 to 1200°C, thereafter executing rapid cooling to 650 to 500°C, holding it for 5sec to 5min, next executing cooling to a room temp., subsequently subjecting it to wire drawing at 60 to 98% reduction rate of area and moreover executing heating treatment at 300 to 500°C.