A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided on each side of the tire equator with a middle land portion defined between a shoulder main groove and a crown main groove each extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The middle land portion is provided with axially inside middle lug grooves and axially outside middle lug grooves arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The axially inside middle lug groove is connected to the crown main groove at an angle θ1 of from 20 to 45 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction and has an axially inner opened end and an axially outer closed end. The outside middle lug grooves is connected to the shoulder main groove at an angle θ2 of from 60 to 80 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction and has an axially outer open end and an axially inner closed end. The tread portion may be provided with a shoulder land portion comprising circumferential sipes, axial grooves terminating at the circumferential sipes, and a circumferentially continuous rib.