The variations of the fourth‐order coefficients of the crystallite orientation distribution function, with rolling reduction have been determined after cold‐rolling and annealing for a deep‐drawing quality rimming steel and an aluminium‐killed steel. These coefficients influence drawability and earing behaviour and by the manipulation of the coefficients in the distribution function of a 60% cold‐rolled and annealed rimming steel, a hypothetical non‐earing sheet texture has been derived. By comparison with the actual sheet texture those textural components which most affect earing behaviour are identified.