A heavy duty tire comprises a belt disposed radially outside a carcass. The belt consists of a innermost first ply, a second ply and a outermost third belt ply. With respect to the tire equator, the cords of the first ply are laid at an angle θ1 of 15 to 25 degrees; the cords of the second ply are laid at an angle θ2 of 15 to 25 degrees; the cords of the third ply are laid at an angle θ3 of 45 to 60 degrees; the cords of the second ply are inclined oppositely to the cords of the first ply; the cords of the third ply are inclined to the same direction as the cords of the second ply; |θ2−θ1| is not more than 5 degrees; |θ3−θ2| is 30 to 45 degrees; the axial widths W1, W2 and W3 of the first, second and third belt plies, respectively, satisfy W1>W2>W3; strengths S1, S2 and S3 of the first, second and third belt plies, respectively, satisfy S1>S2>S3 and 1.0>S2/S1>=0.6.