The pneumatic tire has a single carcass ply reinforced with parallel metallic cords, each cord composed of at least one filament having a tensile strength of at least (-2000.times.D+4400 MPa).times.95%, where D is the filament diameter in millimeters. The turnup portion of the single carcass ply 12 in the bead portion of a pneumatic tire is interposed between the bead core 11 and a toe guard 18, and the radially outer edge of each turnup portion being in contact with the main portion of the carcass ply and extending to an end point 0.5 to 4.0 inches (12.7 to 101.6 mm) radially outward of the bead core. The toe guard 18 has a first and second end and each end is disposed directly adjacent to the carcass ply. The first end 18a of the toe guard is located on the axially inner side of the main portion of the carcass ply at a location about 0.4 to 3.5 inches (10 to 89 mm) radially outward of the bead core and the second end 18b is located at a point ranging from substantially the axially outermost point of the bead core 11 to a location about 3.5 inches (89 mm) radially outward of the bead core. The first end 18a and second end 18b of the toe guard is a shorter distance from the bead core than the end point 12a of the turnup portion of the carcass ply.