Abstract: Aiming at the surface wrinkle defect of SCM435 cold heading steel high-speed wire, the relationship between plastic strain energy density and surface wrinkle defects was studied through Gleeble thermal simulation experiment and finite element analysis. Based on the plastic strain energy density analysis, the influence of rough-rolling pass design is on the tendency of surface wrinkle defects of rolled piece was discussed. The results show that the greater the plastic strain energy density and the more concentrated the distribution, the greater the tendency of plastic instability and surface wrinkle defects on the rolled piece; By optimization of the R3 and R5 pass in rough rolling stage, the plastic strain energy density around the billet corner position is reduced notably, and the number of surface wrinkle defects on wire is decreased evidently.