Since v23 of the support library contain a layout bug. https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=183127 The suggested workaround is to use this Class.

CustomPagerTabStrip.java

package android.support.v4.view;

import android.content.Context;
import android.util.AttributeSet;

/**
 * Since v23 of the support library contain a layout bug.
 * https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=183127
 */
public class CustomPagerTabStrip extends PagerTabStrip {

    public CustomPagerTabStrip(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
        final int widthMode = MeasureSpec.getMode(widthMeasureSpec);
        final int heightMode = MeasureSpec.getMode(heightMeasureSpec);
        final int widthSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(widthMeasureSpec);
        final int heightSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(heightMeasureSpec);

        if (widthMode != MeasureSpec.EXACTLY) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Must measure with an exact width");
        }

        int childHeight = heightSize;
        int minHeight = getMinHeight();
        int padding = 0;
        padding = getPaddingTop() + getPaddingBottom();
        childHeight -= padding;

        final int childWidthSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec((int) (widthSize * 0.8f),
                MeasureSpec.AT_MOST);
        final int childHeightSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(childHeight, MeasureSpec.AT_MOST);

        mPrevText.measure(childWidthSpec, childHeightSpec);
        mCurrText.measure(childWidthSpec, childHeightSpec);
        mNextText.measure(childWidthSpec, childHeightSpec);

        if (heightMode == MeasureSpec.EXACTLY) {
            setMeasuredDimension(widthSize, heightSize);
        } else {
            int textHeight = mCurrText.getMeasuredHeight();
            setMeasuredDimension(widthSize, Math.max(minHeight, textHeight + padding));
        }
    }
}

sample_layout.xml

<android.support.v4.view.ViewPager
    android:id="@+id/view_pager"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <android.support.v4.view.CustomPagerTabStrip
        android:id="@+id/pager_tab_strip"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="top"
        android:paddingBottom="10dp"
        android:paddingTop="10dp"
        android:textColor="#ff0000"/>
</android.support.v4.view.ViewPager>