Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of an amine functionalized styrene/conjugated diene copolymer elastomer (e.g. styrene/butadiene and/or styrene/isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer) which contains reinforcement comprised of silanol functionalized particulate carbon black having silica domains covering a fraction of the carbon black surface together with an alkoxysilane polysulfide coupling agent. The silica domains on the carbon black surface contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surfaces which are reactive with the alkoxysilane moiety of the coupling agent. The amine functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer is an organic solution polymerization prepared elastomer which contains pendant and/or terminal amine groups as one or more of primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, and/or heterocyclic amine groups. The amine functionalized elastomer may be tin coupled.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endless vehicular rubber track. The invention particularly relates to such track having hard rubber guide lugs with a softer guide support layer. It is to be appreciated that such guide lugs may also be positively driven drive lugs. The invention further relates to a vehicle having such track.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of an amine functionalized styrene/conjugated diene copolymer elastomer (e.g. styrene/butadiene and/or styrene/isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer) which contains reinforcement comprised of silanol functionalized particulate carbon black having silica domains covering a fraction of the carbon black surface together with an alkoxysilane polysulfide coupling agent. The silica domains on the carbon black surface contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surfaces which are reactive with the alkoxysilane moiety of the coupling agent. The amine functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer is an organic solution polymerization prepared elastomer which contains pendant and/or terminal amine groups as one or more of primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, and/or heterocyclic amine groups. The amine functionalized elastomer may be tin coupled.

Abstract: A method of coating a tire, comprising the steps of applying to an outer surface of a green tire: a precure paint essentially free of curatives, the precure paint comprising 100 parts by weight of elastomer, and from about 2000 to about 4000 parts by weight of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A halobutyl rubber is generally used in the innerliner of pneumatic tires to retard the escape of air used to inflate the tire, thereby maintaining tire pressure. Since halobutyl rubbers, such as bromobutyl rubber, are generally the most expensive elastomers used in tires, it is desirable from a standpoint of cost reduction to reduce the level of halobutyl rubbers used in tires. The present invention relates to a technique for reducing the quantity of halobutyl rubber utilized in the innerliner of tubeless pneumatic vehicle tires. The present invention more specifically relates to a tire innerliner and pneumatic tires containing the same, which are prepared from a composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of rubber, a blend of (1) about 50 parts to about 90 parts of a halobutyl rubber and (2) about 10 parts to about 50 parts of a styrene-isoprene-butadiene terpolymer rubber having a first glass transition temperature which is within the range of about -110.degree. C. to about -20.degree. C.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery copolymers of styrene and butadiene and/or isoprene. These rubbers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in high performance tire tread rubber compounds. The subject invention specifically discloses a process for preparing a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) which comprises: copolymerizing from about 30 weight percent to about 55 weight percent styrene and from about 45 weight percent to about 70 weight percent 1,3-butadiene in an alkane solvent, such as hexane, at a temperature which is within the range of about -10.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. in the presence of (a) an alkali metal alkoxide, and (b) an organolithium compound, wherein the molar ratio of the alkali metal alkoxide to the organolithium compound is within the range of about 0.01:1 to about 1:1.