A rubber-steel cord composite according to an embodiment is formed by vulcanizing and bonding a rubber composition containing 1 to 10 parts by mass of sulfur, 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of N,N-dibenzylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide, and 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of either one or both of hexamethylene bis-thiosulfate disodium salt dihydrate and 1,6-bis(N,N-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)hexane, with respect to 100 parts by mass of diene rubber containing natural rubber, and a steel cord. A pneumatic tire according to an embodiment includes the rubber-steel cord composite.