Wire ropes are widely used in cable car, suspension bridge and elevator, etc. and there has been a growing need for ropes of large diameter. The theoretical procedures to obtain the stiffness coefficients of wire ropes, using previously reported theory, are programmed and the verification of the program is made. The effects of lay angle on the stiffness of strand are researched and comparisons on stiffness of rope are made according to the lay type. Axial stiffness optimization problems with coupling and torsional stiffness constraints are formulated and the effects of constraints on other stiffness coefficients on axial stiffness optimization are investigated.