The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer is the running surface of the tread having a lug and groove configuration and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer wherein the base layer provides a transition zone between the tread cap layer and the remainder of the tire carcass and is not intended to be ground-contacting. For this invention, the tread cap layer is comprised of three distinct load-bearing zones which contain reinforcing fillers selected from precipitated silica and carbon black, namely a circumferential annular central zone of a rubber composition to promote traction for the running surface of the tread, wherein the central zone is positioned between two lateral and peripheral circumferential annular zones of a rubber composition to promote resistance to tread wear for the running surface of the tread. In one aspect, the zoned rubber tread cap layer and rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form an integral tread rubber composite.