A pneumatic radial tire has at least one carcass reinforcing ply and a pair of opposing bead portions. Each bead portion has a bead core and a bead apex, while the carcass reinforcing ply has a main portion and two turnups, with one turnup extending from each end of the main portion and having a terminal end. In each bead portion, there is a minimum distance D.sub.MIN between the carcass main portion and the carcass turnup, as measured perpendicular to the tire equatorial plane EP. The distance D.sub.MIN is not less than 50% of the maximum bead core width W.sub.B as measured perpendicular to the equatorial plane EP. In each bead portion, radially outward of the minimum distance D.sub.MIN, a radially outermost portion of the carcass turnup extends at an angle so the radially outermost portion of the carcass turnup is divergent from the carcass main portion.