Abstract: A precipitation hardening ferritic-pearlitic steel containing:0.20 to 0.60% carbon0.20 to 0.95% silicon0.50 to 1.80% manganese0.004 to 0.04% nitrogen0.05 to 0.20% vanadium and/or niobium0 to 0.20% sulfur0 to 0.70% chromium0 to 0.10% aluminum0 to 0.05% titaniumbalance iron and incidental impurities. The steel is useful for valves in internal combustion engines.