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Systematic experimental observations concerning the response of microstructural features on fretting wear of steel grades were conducted. Five steel grades with different typical microstructural features were selected. The effect of various microstructures on fretting wear behaviour and the resulting wear mechanism were evaluated. Results show that microstructural features play a significant effect on fretting wear resistance depending on the applied loads. The DP and Q&P steel having low hardness show comparable or even better fretting wear resistance than the FM steel of the highest hardness regardless of loads, which are all better than TWIP and IF steel. The result suggests that the combination of soft ferrite and hard martensite with/without retained austenite having low hardness displays superior fretting wear resistance. • The stabilized friction coefficient of DP, Q&P and FM steels is lower than that of IF and TWIP steels. • DP and Q&P steels with low hardness perform comparable or even better wear resistances than FM steel of highest hardness. • The order of wear resistance is DP/Q&P/FM, IF and TWIP steel for low load, but DP/Q&P/FM, TWIP and IF steel for high load. • An optimal microstructure may be the combination of soft ferrite and hard martensite with/without some retained austenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]