Tunnel　magnetoresistive　(TMR)　devices　have　superior　performances　in　weak　magnetic　field　detection.　In　this　study,　TMR　devices　were　first　employed　to　form　a　circular　magnetic　flux　leakage　(MFL)　sensor　for　slight　wire　rope　flaw　detection.　Two　versions　of　this　tailor-made　circular　TMR-based　sensor　array　were　presented　for　the　inspection　of　wire　ropes　with　the　diameters　of　14mm　and　40　mm,　respectively.　Helmholtz-like　coils　or　a　ferrite　magnet-based　magnetizer　was　selected　to　provide　the　proper　magnetic　field,　in　order　to　meet　the　technical　requirements　of　the　TMR　devices.　The　coefficient　of　variance　in　the　flaw　detection　performance　of　the　sensor　array　elements　was　experimentally　estimated　at　4.05%.　Both　versions　of　the　MFL　sensor　array　were　able　to　detect　multiple　single-broken　wire　flaws　in　the　wire　ropes.　The　accurate　axial　and　circumferential　positions　of　these　broken　wire　flaws　were　estimated　from　the　MFL　scanning　image　results.　In　addition,　the　proposed　TMR-based　sensor　array　was　applied　to　detect　the　MFL　signal　induced　by　slight　surface　wear　defects.　A　mutual　correlation　analysis　method　was　used　to　distinguish　the　signals　caused　by　the　lift-off　fluctuation　from　the　MFL　scanning　image　results.　The　MFL　sensor　arrays　presented　in　this　study　provide　inspiration　for　the　designing　of　tailor-made　TMR-based　circular　sensor　arrays　for　cylindrical　ferromagnetic　structural　inspections.