The reinforcing element (34) has a cross-section with a flattened overall shape having an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 5 and extending in a main direction (Z1). It comprises a lateral edge (46) made of a polymeric composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, the lateral edge (46) extending in a general direction substantially parallel to the main direction. The reinforcing element (34) is such that R=(UcU1)/Uc>11%, where Uc is the average value of the microhardness of the reinforcing element (34) measured in its central part, and U1 is the average value of the microhardness of the reinforcing element (34) measured at its lateral edge (36). The lateral edge (46) does not have any ridges.

A pneumatic tire according to an embodiment includes a belt ply containing steel cords arranged to be inclined with respect to a tire circumferential direction, and a bending stiffness of the belt ply calculated by multiplying a bending stiffness per cord of the steel cords by a cord end count is 10 N/25.4 mm or more and less than 30 N/25.4 mm. A circumferential strength of the belt ply calculated by multiplying a product of a breaking load per cord of the steel cords and the cord end count by cos , where represents an inclination angle of the steel cords with respect to the tire circumferential direction, is 13.5 kN/25.4 mm or more.

A belt layer includes an inner cross belt having a belt cord angle with an absolute value of 45 degrees or more relative to the circumferential direction, an outer cross belt having a belt cord angle with an absolute value of 45 degrees or less relative to the circumferential direction with an opposite sign as the belt cord angle of the inner cross belt and outward of the inner cross belt in the radial direction, and a circumferential reinforcing layer including a belt cord having a belt angle within 5 degrees relative to the circumferential direction and disposed between the inner and outer cross belts. A width W1 of the circumferential reinforcing layer in the width direction, a width W2 of the inner cross belt in the width direction, and a width W3 of the outer cross belt in the width direction satisfy a relationship W1<W3<W2.

A multi-strand cord (50) comprises an internal layer (CI) of the cord made up of K=1 three-layer (C1, C2, C3) internal strand (TI), with the internal layer (C1) being made up of Q internal metallic threads (F1), the intermediate layer (C2) being made up of M intermediate metallic threads (F2) and the external layer (C3) being made up of N external metallic threads (F3), and an external layer (CE) of the cord made up of L>1 three-layer (C1, C2, C3) external strands (TE) wound around the internal layer (CI) of the cord, with the internal layer (C1) being made up of Q internal metallic threads (F1), the intermediate layer (C2) being made up of M intermediate metallic threads (F2) and the external layer (C3) being made up of N external metallic threads (F3). The cord (50) has an endurance criterion SL40 000 MPa.Math.mm with $SL=\max \left(\frac{{}_{\mathrm{bending}\_\mathrm{CI}}}{\mathrm{Cp}};\frac{{}_{\mathrm{bending}\_\mathrm{CE}}}{C_r\mathrm{Cp}}\right);$
and a size criterion Ec0.46 with Ec=Sc/Se.