Methodology. To identify the macrostructure of the metal of the wheels, deep hot etching was performed with a 50% aqueous hydrochloric acid solution according to GOST 10243. An assessment of the contamination of the metal of the wheels under study was performed in accordance with GOST 1778. The microstructure was detected by etching in 4% alcoholic nitric acid solution. Tensile tests of steel rims and wheel disks were carried out in accordance with GOST 1497, hardness according to GOST 9012, impact strength was determined according to GOST 9454. The results of mechanical tests were checked for compliance with the requirements of DSTU GOST 10791: 2016 Findings. The macro and microstructures of cast and solid-rolled railway wheels were studied. It was established that due to the characteristics of the production of cast railway wheels (the wheel rim crystallizes, feeding on liquid metal through a disk, then the disk and hub crystallize), all three zones that are observed in a steel ingot (a zone of fine-grained crust, columnar crystals and equiaxial crystals) are observed and in each element of the cast railway wheel. In the metal of the rim of the cast wheel, the average score of sulfides is 3 points, which does not meet the requirements of GOST 10791: 2016, and the sulfide inclusions in the whole-rolled railway wheel do not exceed 2 on the C scale of GOST 1778-70. It is shown that the microstructure of a cast railway wheel consists of perlite, has a heterogeneous structure (strongly and weakly treated strips), the formation of which is explained by the presence of dendritic segregation, which occurs in the process of crystallization. In the solid-rolled wheel, segregation heterogeneity is weakly expressed, the microstructure is ferritic-pearlitic, homogeneous. The cast wheels of class C according to the strength properties satisfy the requirements of DSTU GOST 10791: 2016 for wheels made of steel grade T, but do not meet the requirements for plastic and viscous characteristics. Originality. The influence of the production method (casting, hot plastic deformation) on the quality indicators of railway wheels has been established. Practical value. Since the metal of a cast railway wheel of class C has low values of reliability indicators, the use of cast railway wheels is possible, apparently, only on closed routes with special operating conditions. Keywords: cast railway wheels, all-rolled railway wheels, microstructure, macrostructure, crystallization, properties.