A pneumatic tire comprising: a tread portion comprising a first tread pattern formed between a tire equator (Co) and one of tread edges, and a second tread pattern formed between the tire equator (Co) and the other one of the tread edges; the first tread pattern and the second pattern being formed as substantially symmetrical design with respect to the tire equator (Co), the first tread pattern and the second pattern being arranged such that pattern phases thereof are shifted one another in a circumferential direction of the tire, each of the first tread pattern and the second tread pattern being provided with a plurality of lateral inclined grooves each extending axially inwardly with an inclination from the tread edge to an axially inner end located near the tire equator (Co) without reaching the tire equator (Co), an inner connecting groove having an opposite inclination to the inclination of the lateral inclined grooves and connecting between a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, and an axially outer connecting groove having an opposite inclination to the inclination of the lateral inclined grooves and connecting between a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves; and a plurality of central connecting grooves arranged axially inward of the inner connecting grooves of the first and second tread patterns (P1, P2), each central connecting groove extending across the tire equator (Co) and connecting one of the lateral inclined grooves arranged on the first tread pattern with one of the lateral inclined grooves arranged on the second tread pattern, characterized in that the tread portion comprises a central block (Bc) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the inner connecting groove and a pair of central connecting groove, a middle block (Bm) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the inner connecting groove and the outer connecting groove, and a shoulder block (Bs) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the outer connecting groove and one of the tread edges, and in that the inner connecting groove comprises an extended portion that extends across one of the lateral inclined grooves and terminates within the middle block (Bm). a tread portion comprising a first tread pattern formed between a tire equator (Co) and one of tread edges, and a second tread pattern formed between the tire equator (Co) and the other one of the tread edges; the first tread pattern and the second pattern being formed as substantially symmetrical design with respect to the tire equator (Co), the first tread pattern and the second pattern being arranged such that pattern phases thereof are shifted one another in a circumferential direction of the tire, each of the first tread pattern and the second tread pattern being provided with a plurality of lateral inclined grooves each extending axially inwardly with an inclination from the tread edge to an axially inner end located near the tire equator (Co) without reaching the tire equator (Co), an inner connecting groove having an opposite inclination to the inclination of the lateral inclined grooves and connecting between a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, and an axially outer connecting groove having an opposite inclination to the inclination of the lateral inclined grooves and connecting between a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves; and a plurality of central connecting grooves arranged axially inward of the inner connecting grooves of the first and second tread patterns (P1, P2), each central connecting groove extending across the tire equator (Co) and connecting one of the lateral inclined grooves arranged on the first tread pattern with one of the lateral inclined grooves arranged on the second tread pattern, characterized in that the tread portion comprises a central block (Bc) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the inner connecting groove and a pair of central connecting groove, a middle block (Bm) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the inner connecting groove and the outer connecting groove, and a shoulder block (Bs) surrounded by a pair of circumferentially adjacent lateral inclined grooves, the outer connecting groove and one of the tread edges, and in that the inner connecting groove comprises an extended portion that extends across one of the lateral inclined grooves and terminates within the middle block (Bm).