A tire having a tread and a shoulder, the tire defining circumferential, radial, and axial directions, the tread defining an inferior tread profile, the tire comprising: at least one groove formed into a surface of the tread, said groove extending about the circumferential direction of the tire; said groove positioned adjacent to the shoulder and inward thereof along the axial direction; said groove comprising, as viewed in a meridian plane of the tire, at least the following portions: a first linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D1 from the exterior tread surface; a second linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D2 from the tread surface, wherein the first linear portion is located between the second linear portion and the shoulder of the tire; a third linear portion connected to, and extending radially-inward from, an end of the second linear portion, the third linear portion being positioned at an angle θ from a hypothetical line that is collinear with the second linear portion, wherein angle θ represents the amount by which the third linear portion is angled away from the shoulder; said groove is characterized in that: the depth D1 is greater than depth D2, and said groove further comprises a fourth curvilinear portion forming the radially innermost surface of the at least one groove, the fourth curvilinear portion extending between and connecting the first linear portion and the third linear portion, the fourth curvilinear portion comprising an arc of an ellipse. at least one groove formed into a surface of the tread, said groove extending about the circumferential direction of the tire; said groove positioned adjacent to the shoulder and inward thereof along the axial direction; said groove comprising, as viewed in a meridian plane of the tire, at least the following portions: a first linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D1 from the exterior tread surface; a second linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D2 from the tread surface, wherein the first linear portion is located between the second linear portion and the shoulder of the tire; a third linear portion connected to, and extending radially-inward from, an end of the second linear portion, the third linear portion being positioned at an angle θ from a hypothetical line that is collinear with the second linear portion, wherein angle θ represents the amount by which the third linear portion is angled away from the shoulder; said groove is characterized in that: the depth D1 is greater than depth D2, and said groove further comprises a fourth curvilinear portion forming the radially innermost surface of the at a first linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D1 from the exterior tread surface; a second linear portion extending radially-inward to a depth D2 from the tread surface, wherein the first linear portion is located between the second linear portion and the shoulder of the tire; a third linear portion connected to, and extending radially-inward from, an end of the second linear portion, the third linear portion being positioned at an angle θ from a hypothetical line that is collinear with the second linear portion, wherein angle θ represents the amount by which the third linear portion is angled away from the shoulder; said groove is characterized in that: the depth D1 is greater than depth D2, and said groove further comprises a fourth curvilinear portion forming the radially innermost surface of the at least one groove, the fourth curvilinear portion extending between and connecting the first linear portion and the third linear portion, the fourth curvilinear portion comprising an arc of an ellipse.