A process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in the presence of a utility fluid. The hydroprocessing conditions comprise a pressure >8 MPa and a weight hourly space velocity of combined pyrolysis tar and utility fluid >0.3 hr−1 and are selected so that the hydrogen consumption rate is in the range of 270 to 445 standard cubic meters/cubic meter (S m3/m3) of pyrolysis tar.