This invention relates to a tread rubber composition for tires with the addition of crosslinked resinous nanoparticles having a high glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) into elastomeric base polymers. The invention demonstrates greatly improved handling performance without deteriorating controllability and stability during high-speed running. The present invention discloses a rubber composition comprising: (1) a rubbery polymer and (2) from 1 to 30 parts per hundred parts of rubber by weight (phr) of pre-crosslinked polymer particles, wherein the pre-crosslinked polymer particles have a particle size which is within the range of 30 nm to 500 nm, wherein the pre-crosslinked polymer is comprised of repeat units that are derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylate monomers, vinyl aromatic monomers, acrylonitrile monomer, and vinyl halide monomers, and wherein the pre-crosslinked polymer has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of 30.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.