In accordance with the invention a wire coat rubber composition for a tire comprises from 70 phr to 100 phr of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, from 0 phr to 30 phr of solution styrene butadiene rubber, from 65 phr to 95 phr pre-silanized precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr carbon black, up to 10 phr of a resin, and up to 10 phr oil. Further the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.