This manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire having a tread reinforcing layer reduces tire mass while maintaining the durability performance of the tire. A tread reinforcing layer formation step includes a winding step for winding belt-shape plies around an approximately cylindrical winding surface. The winding step involves: a first winding step in which, with the side edges of the belt-shape plies spaced from one another, said belt-shape plies are spirally wound from a first end located on one side of the tire in the axial direction, to a second end located on the other side of the tire in the axial direction; and a second winding step in which, with the side edges of the belt-shape plies spaced from one another, said belt-shape plies are spirally wound from the second end to the first end in the direction opposite that in the first winding step. A lattice-form tread reinforcing layer is formed that has gaps substantially rhombic in shape and bounded by the belt-shape plies.