A tire of vulcanized elastomer having at least two carcass plies having reinforcing cords embedded therein with the cords in each ply extending continuously at a bias angle from one bead to the opposite bead of the tire. An overhead ply having metal reinforcing wires therein is provided over the carcass ply, with the wires in the overhead ply spliced in the crown region of the tire and extending at equal but opposite bias angles on axially opposite sides of the tire through the sidewalls and terminating adjacent the beads.