The present invention provides a rubber composition for tires and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition, wherein the rubber composition can improve discoloration resistance and tire appearance while maintaining or improving good fuel economy and good abrasion resistance. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for tires containing a rubber component containing styrene-butadiene rubber in an amount of 30 to 100% by mass based on 100% by mass of the rubber component; a Pluronic-type nonionic surfactant; and sulfur, the rubber composition for tires having a combined amount of carbon black and silica of 20 to 140 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.