A pneumatic tire comprises: a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions; a pair of bead portions each with a bead core therein; a carcass having a main portion extending between the bead portions; a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion; a bead apex disposed in each of the bead portions and extending radially outwardly from the bead core, wherein the radial height h1 of the radially outer edge of the bead apex rubber is not more than 28% of the tire section height H; and a sidewall reinforcing rubber layer disposed in each of the sidewall portions and extending along the carcass main portion at least between a radial position corresponding to the radial position of the radially outer edge of the bead apex rubber and an axial position corresponding to the axial position of the axially outer edge of the belt, wherein the sidewall reinforcing rubber layer has a thickness in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 mm and a complex elastic modulus E* in a range of from 13 to 16 MPa.