In the present study, effect of Cu2O film deposited via successive ionic layer adsorption and corresponding chemical reaction (SILAR method) on Cu-Sn coated steel substrate was explored for the purpose of improving the adhesion of steel with rubber. The effect of the relative alkali concentration in the oxide film deposition bath and the number of immersion cycles on the interfacial adhesion affecting the nature of oxide film deposited, its thickness and surface coverage were investigated. In the current study, Cu-Sn coated steel bead wire with coated surface roughness (R-a) around 2 mu m showed an improvement of 33% in adhesion (in terms of pull out force) with an optimum alkali/Cu ion concentration of 25:1 with single dipping cycle attributed to an optimum oxide coating thickness of similar to 70 nm. Surface morphology study exhibited formation of thicker coating with increase in number of dipping cycles. Satisfactory thermal stability of the Cu2O film was confirmed as no re-oxidation of the Cu2O film to CuO was observed in the 200 degrees C heat treated samples.