This invention relates to a tire comprised of an assembly of uncured rubber components wherein said assembly includes a circumferential uncured pre-formed internal composite comprised of a combination of at least one uncured rubber layer containing metal cord reinforcement with a high sulfur content and at least one adjoining auxiliary buffer layer of uncured rubber layer having a significantly lower sulfur content and without cord reinforcement. The auxiliary buffer rubber layer(s) with the reduced sulfur content is provided to promote tear resistance and sulfur cure reversion resistance for the composite. In a preferred embodiment, the uncured rubber composite is pre-formed prior to its application to and made a part of the tire assembly of components. The tire assembly is thereafter cured in a suitable mold to form a tire.