A first tire includes a tread having a circumferential center rib and a circumferential intermediate rib laterally adjacent the center rib, the intermediate rib being separated from the center rib by a first circumferential groove, a second circumferential rib bordering the intermediate rib opposite the first circumferential groove, the tread further including two other circumferential grooves; at least one stiffener element disposed within each of the four circumferential grooves, the stiffener elements having a reduced height relative to a height of the center and intermediate ribs; and the stiffener element having a circumferentially oriented cut extending into an upper surface of the stiffener element toward a bottom of the stiffener element, the cut extending circumferentially through the stiffener element with the cut bounded by opposite laterally inward facing cut sides.