Processability and abrasion resistance are improved in a rubber composition having silica added thereto. The rubber composition for a tire comprises a diene rubber, silica and an ether ester that is monoester and/or diester of polyoxyalkylene glycerin fatty acid ester represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 each represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is an acyl group, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, a, b and c each independently represent an average number of moles added and 60 mass % or more of (R4O)a, (R5O)b and (R6O)c, consists of an oxyethylene group. A pneumatic tire manufactured using the rubber composition is disclosed.