The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber 
tread of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap / base construction; wherein the 
tread cap is of a rubber composition which contains 
carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a 
visible surface of at least one groove is of a rubber composition exclusive of 
carbon black and is of a non-black color and wherein said visible non-black 
colored rubber composition is a rubber layer which underlies said 
tread cap. Said visible non-black 
colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black 
colored rubber composition contains an amorphous 
precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated 
precipitated silica. In another aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition, and alternately, 
carbon black containing black colored rubber compositions adjoining said non-black colored rubber composition, is comprised a blend of at least one 
diene based 
elastomer and a brominated 
copolymer of 
isobutylene and p-methylstyrene together with an organo phosphite.