Method for producing high carbon steel wire rod superior in wire-drawability

The high carbon steel wire rod contains 0.65% to 1.20% of C, 0.05% to 1.2% of Si, 0.2% to 1.0% of Mn, and 0.35% or less (including 0%) of Cr, further contains P and S each in an amount restricted to 0.02% or less, where 80% or more of the metal structure is constituted by a pearlite structure; and an average tensile strength TS and an average lamellar spacing λ of the high carbon steel wire rod show the relation of TS≦8700/√{square root over ( )}(λ/Ceq)+290 in which Ceq=% C+% Mn/5+% Cr/4. The high carbon steel wire rod can omit a patenting treatment before or during wire drawing, is superior in wire drawability, and exhibits a low drawing resistance in a wire drawing die in an as-hot-rolled state.