Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire which contains at least one electrically conductive cord extending from an external outer surface of its wheel-rim mounting surface rubber component to an internal electrically conductive tread base layer rubber component to provide a path of least electrical resistance, namely an electrically conductive path, between the outer tire wheel-rim mounting surface and the internal tire tread base layer. The electrically conductive cord is comprised of at least one electrically conductive metal filament (e.g. metal filament, carbon fiber or combination of metal filament and carbon fiber) spirally wound around a centrally disposed core of at least one organic fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The rubber compound has improved (lower) electrical resistivity compared to homogeneous silica-filled rubber compounds. The process comprises (a) intimately dispersing from 30 to 60 phr of a silica filler and 5 to 80 phr of a carbon black in a first rubber to form a first nonproductive compound; (b) intimately dispersing curatives in said first nonproductive compound to form a first productive compound; (c) separately intimately dispersing from 20 to 100 phr of a silica filler in a second rubber, which is different from said first rubber, to form a second nonproductive compound; and (d) intimately dispersing curatives in said second nonproductive compound to form a second productive compound; and (e) mixing said first productive compound with said second productive compound to form a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire, and its preparation, composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass with an outer, circumferential rubber tread construction of a rubber composition having a relatively high electrical resistivity. The tire tread construction has an electrically conductive filamentary thread stitched through the tread construction and extending between the inner surface of the tread to its outer surface. An electrically conductive path is thereby created through the tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The rubber compound has improved (lower) electrical resistivity compared to homogeneous silica-filled rubber compounds. The process comprises(a) intimately dispersing from 30 to 60 phr of a silica filler and 5 to 80 phr of a carbon black in a first rubber to form a first nonproductive compound;(b) intimately dispersing curatives in said first nonproductive compound to form a first productive compound;(c) separately intimately dispersing from 20 to 100 phr of a silica filler in a second rubber, which is different from said first rubber, to form a second nonproductive compound; and(d) intimately dispersing curatives in said second nonproductive compound to form a second productive compound; and(e) mixing said first productive compound with said second productive compound to form a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with tread of rubber composition quantitatively reinforced with silica and containing only a minimal amount of carbon black, wherein the carbon black is characterized by having a DBP value in a range of about 280 to about 600 and an Iodine Number value in a range of about 550 to about 1200 and where carbon blacks having DBP and Iodine Numbers of less than such values are substantially excluded from the rubber composition.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprised of elastomer(s) including a tin or silicon modified elastomer, modified carbon black and silica coupler. Said modified carbon black has one or more of silanol, siloxane, titanium dioxide, zirconium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide on its surface. A tire having a tread of such rubber composition is also provided.