In a pneumatic tire, a rim R has a rim diameter RD of 12 to 17 inches. A ratio SH/SW of a tire cross-sectional height SH to a tire cross-sectional width SW is 0.30 to 0.45. A ratio RW/SW of a rim width RW of the rim to the tire cross-sectional width SW is 0.78 to 0.99. A complex elastic modulus E* 1 (MPa) of a cap rubber layer 15 is larger than a complex elastic modulus E2 (MPa) of a base rubber layer 16. In belt plies, a plurality of belt cords 7c having a bending stiffness M (g·cm) are arranged so as to have a number n of the belt cords per ply width of 5 cm. The complex elastic modulus E1, the complex elastic modulus E*2, the bending stiffness M, and the number n satisfy a relationship of the following formula (1). M×n
