A pneumatic tire has a tread with plurality of grooves creating tread elements therein and defining a non-skid tread depth measured from the radially outer surface of the tread to the radially innermost surface of the grooves. Groove voids are located radially inward of the tread surface. The groove voids do not extend to the unworn tread surface and have a primary axis of orientation along the circumferential length of the tread. The primary axis of orientation of the groove voids is 0°-35° relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. The groove voids are aligned such that, when the tire tread is worn to a depth wherein the groove voids are exposed, a groove is created in the tread. The created groove extends in the circumferential direction and has a circumferential length greater than the length between the leading and trailing edges of the tread footprint.