This wire stock is made of a microalloyed steel having a carbon content of between 0.2% and 0.6% by weight and furthermore containing at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, molybdenum and chromium, in a proportion, by weight, of at least 0.05% and at most 0.5% of said alloying element or of the combination of said alloying elements. Such wire stocks are manufactured in order to produce, by deformation and heat treatment, a ready-to-use wire which is used, for example, to reinforce articles made of plastics or made of rubber, especially tire covers, plies, belts, hoses.