Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire layer (e.g., tire tread or carcass layer) having a rubber composition including a pyrazolone-based compound in combination with reinforcing filler material and optionally a processing aid, and tires using the same, that provides desirable tire performance properties, such as improvements in tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis. In one embodiment, the tire layer includes a rubber composition having an elastomer (e.g., natural or isoprene rubber), a pyrazolone-based compound, reinforcing filler selected from carbon black only, carbon black/silica blends only, or graphene, functionalized graphene, carbon nanotubes, functionalized carbon nanotubes or mixtures thereof further optionally with carbon black, and an optional processing aid, such as a metal glycerolate, in desirable amounts to provide enhanced tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire layer (e.g., tire tread or carcass layer) having a rubber composition including a pyrazolone-based compound in combination with reinforcing filler material and optionally a processing aid, and tires using the same, that provides desirable tire performance properties, such as improvements in tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis. In one embodiment, the tire layer includes a rubber composition having an elastomer (e.g., natural or isoprene rubber), a pyrazolone-based compound, reinforcing filler selected from carbon black only, carbon black/silica blends only, or graphene, functionalized graphene, carbon nanotubes, functionalized carbon nanotubes or mixtures thereof further optionally with carbon black, and an optional processing aid, such as a metal glycerolate, in desirable amounts to provide enhanced tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr):100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 1-80 phr of carbon black; from 0 to 100 phr of silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a surface-functionalized carbon allotrope; from 1 to 20 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the silica; and from 0.1 to 10 phr of a tetrazine compound of formula 1 where X1 and X2 each represent a heterocyclic group. The invention also includes a pneumatic tire comprising the vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr): 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 1 to 80 phr of carbon black; from 40 to 120 phr of silica; from 1 to 20 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the silica; from 0.1 to 10 phr of a tetrazine compound of formula 1 where X1 and X2 each represent a heterocyclic group; and from 0.5 to 10 phr of a zinc complex compound of formula 2 where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkylene groups, hydroxyl-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, amine-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, and thiol-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups.