A pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber composition prepared with ultra high molecular weight crystalline polyethylene and m-phenylene bismaleimide. Such crystalline polyethylene has a melting point in a range of about 125 C. to about 140 C. Such rubber composition is prepared by blending its elastomers and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene together with m-phenylene bismaleimide at a temperature in a range of from about 150 C. to about 180 C. and at least 10 C. above the melting point of said polyethylene, prior to subsequently blending sulfur curatives therewith at a temperature in a range of from about 90 C. to about 115 C. Such rubber composition may be a tire component such as, for example, circumferential rubber tread, rubber tire sidewall, circumferential cord reinforced rubber belt underlying a tire tread and carcass cord reinforced rubber ply components.