Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a composite rubber tread band disposed circumferentially around a tire carcass. The tread band is comprised of a cap/base construction composed of an outer tread cap rubber layer which provides a primary portion of the running surface for the tire tread and a unitary tread base layer underlying said tread cap layer which extends radially outward to the tread running surface to provide a secondary portion of the running surface of the tread. The rubber composition of said tread base layer and the corresponding secondary lateral portion of the running surface of the tread has a greater resistance to wear than the rubber composition of said tread cap layer.