Formation of a dissipative structure of metastable austenite in steels of pearlitic (70Kh2GSML and 150KhNML) and ledeburitic (Kh12MFL and 95Kh18) classes after high-temperature quenching is considered. An x-ray diffraction analysis is performed and the microstructure is analyzed. The hardness after quenching from different temperatures is determined. The wear resistance and the microhardness of the functional surface are studied after wear tests. The features of the development of strain martensitic transformation and the micro-trip effect caused by this transformation are described. The morphology of the friction martensite is studied. Possibilities of raising the abrasion resistance of high-carbon steels by formation of metastable austenite are analyzed.