A pneumatic rubber tire with a sidewall having an outer visible layer of a rubber composition of a relatively high electrical conductivity, wherein the tire sidewall contains an internal rubber strip of relatively high electrical conductivity. Said internal rubber strip extends radially outward from a rubber chafer component of the tire to a tread base layer component of a rubber tire tread of a cap/base configuration, wherein said chafer and tread base rubber compositions are of a relatively high electrical conductivity. The rubber strip thereby provides a path of increased electrical conductivity relative to said outer visible layer of the tire sidewall extending from the tire chafer to the tread base layer tire components. In practice, the rubber strip is exclusive of the outer surface of the tire tread cap layer intended to be ground-contacting, preferably exclusive of the tire tread cap layer itself, and preferably exclusive of the outer surface of the tire chafer component intended to contact a rigid metal rim of a tire/rim wheel assembly.