Strengthening mechanisms applied for modern line pipe steel design were studied. Low carbon steels alloyed with Mn, Mo, V, Nb processed by the way of controlled rolling were developed for spiral welded X65-X80 line pipes up to 1420 mm diameter. Formation of the microstructure during steel processing was studied. The effects of typical microstructure for the steels on mechanical properties, strain hardening behavior and Bauschinger effect were studied. Main metallurgical factors affecting on strength measured in plates and pipes were revealed using physical and computer simulations.