There are a number of salient features which characterize tire cord quality steel: very narrow limits in chemical composition; low level of trace elements such as arsenic, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, and tin; Zero aluminum content in the steel; good, to very-good, microscopic cleanliness; and good deformability of the remaining inclusions during hot rolling and wire drawing. Steelmakers have found no way to make steel absolutely free from non-metallic inclusions. But the inclusions can be rendered harmless by carefully controlling manganese, trace elements and the aluminum used for killing the steel.