A rubber composition for tires, which includes a rubber component containing a natural rubber component consisting of at least either a natural rubber or an epoxidized natural rubber, and an inorganic filler containing silica, and a pneumatic tire using such a rubber composition for tires are provided. The rubber composition can be used as a rubber composition for clinch apex, and in this case, the rubber component preferably consists of the natural rubber component, with the inorganic filler being contained in a range of 50 to 80 parts by mass and carbon black being contained in a range of 2 to 5 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The rubber composition for tires can be used as a rubber composition for a bead apex, and in this case, the inorganic filler contains silica and clay, and the compounding amount of the clay is set in a range of 5 to 40 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, with the total compounding amount of the silica and clay being set to 65 parts by mass or more relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.