Microstructure and texture of the as-drawn and the as annealed pearlitic steel wires were characterized by using SEM ( scanning electron microscopy) and EBSD ( electron backscatter diffraction) to reveal the effect of austenitizing process on the texture redistribution of the cold drawn pearlitic steel wire. The results show that the lamellar structure of the as-drawn pearlite steel wire turns to parallel to the drawing direction, forming ferrite <110> fiber texture. The intensity of the <110> texture rises with the rising strain of steel wires. After austenitizing heat treatment, the ferrite <110> fiber texture still remains in the wire, of which the intensity corresponds to the strain value of the as drawn wire. With the increasing of austenitizing temperature and time, the intensity of the ferrite <110> texture decreases. The ferrite <110> texture remains in the wire which has been cold drawn up to a strain value 2.2 and then annealed at 850℃ for 80 min.