The invention provides a rubber composition for a tire, and a pneumatic tire that are capable of achieving both good fuel economy and a good elongation at break. The rubber composition for a tire according to the invention includes a rubber component containing an isoprene-based rubber; sulfur; and a coumarone-indene resin having a softening point of -20 DEG C. to 45 DEG C., wherein the coumarone-indene resin is contained in an amount of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.