A high tensile strength steel wire having as steel composition: a carbon content ranging from 0.20 weight percent to 1.00 weight percent, e.g. from 0.3 weight percent to 0.85 weight percent, e.g. from 0.4 weight percent to 0.7 weight percent, e.g. from 0.5 weight percent to 0.6 weight percent, a silicon content ranging from 0.05 weight percent to 2.0 weight percent, e.g. from 0.2 weight percent to 1.8 weight percent, e.g. from 1.2 weight percent to 1.6 weight percent, a manganese content ranging from 0.40 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent, e.g. from 0.5 weight percent to 0.9 weight percent, a chromium content ranging from 0.0 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent, e.g. from 0.5 weight percent to 0.8 weight percent, a sulfur and phosphor content being individually limited to 0.05 weight percent, e.g. limited to 0.025 weight percent, contents of nickel, vanadium, aluminum, copper or other micro-alloying elements all being individually limited to 0.5 weight percent, e.g. limited to 0.2 weight percent, e.g. limited to 0.08 weight percent, the remainder being iron, said steel wire having martensitic structure, wherein at least 10 volume percent of martensite are oriented.