Fretting fatigue causes failures in steel wire ropes. These steel wires are usually galvanised. This zinc coating could change the crack initiation process, as it modifies the contact interface. In this study, fretting fatigue tests were performed on bright (non galvanised) and galvanised wires under ambiant air, varying independantly fretting and fatigue loadings. No significative beneficial effect of galvanisation on lifetimes was observed, contrary to what was found in litterature. Plain fretting tests and dedicated observations were performed to better interpret the influence of zinc coating.