Abstract: The invention relates to a tire of a structural combination of tire tread and sidewall components with compositional limitations containing minimal, if any, of in situ formed alcohol and methyl isobutyl ketone byproducts. The tread component rubber composition contains pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The sidewall component contains low unsaturation EPDM or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene and may contain pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The silica reinforcement for said tread and sidewall components is a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. The pre-hydrophobated silica is prepared, prior to mixing with the elastomer(s), by reacting hydroxyl groups (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer and functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer containing an internal silanol and/or siloxy group therein with pendent silanol and/or alkoxy groups of a polymodal (e.g. bimodal) molecular weight distribution and a dispersion therein of silica aggregates of which a portion thereof contain a plurality of hydroxyl groups on their surface in a form of geminal hydroxyl groups. In one aspect, said silica aggregates may be pre-treated to reduce said hydroxyl groups on their surface prior to blending with said silanol and/or siloxy functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire with a sidewall having an outer visible layer of a rubber composition of a relatively high electrical conductivity, wherein the tire sidewall contains an internal rubber strip of relatively high electrical conductivity. Said internal rubber strip extends radially outward from a rubber chafer component of the tire to a tread base layer component of a rubber tire tread of a cap/base configuration, wherein said chafer and tread base rubber compositions are of a relatively high electrical conductivity. The rubber strip thereby provides a path of increased electrical conductivity relative to said outer visible layer of the tire sidewall extending from the tire chafer to the tread base layer tire components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a tread of a rubber composition comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer and functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer containing an internal silanol and/or siloxy group therein with pendent silanol and/or alkoxy groups of a polymodal (e.g. bimodal) molecular weight distribution, together with at least 30 phr of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and a dispersion in said rubber composition of precipitated silica aggregates and a coupling agent as a bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from only 2 to 2.5 sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge to the exclusion of a bis (3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide having an average of greater than 2.5, and particularly greater than 3, sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. In one aspect, said silica aggregates may be pre-treated to reduce said hydroxyl groups on their surface prior to blending with said silanol and/or siloxy functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: This invention discloses a pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads; wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting; wherein the tread is comprised of (a) about 60 phr to about 90 phr of a cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, wherein the cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about ?104° C. to about ?80° C., (b) about 10 phr to about 40 phr of at least one additional rubbery polymer selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, and styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, wherein the additional rubbery polymer has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about ?30° C. to about ?10° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of a carbon black and precipitated silica reinforced elastomer blend comprised of a combination of hydroxyl functionalized aqueous emulsion polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomer (E-SBR) and tin coupled organic solvent solution polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomer (S-SBR) and/or isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer. Preferably, said E-SBR is exclusive of functional groups reactive with alkoxy groups other than said hydroxyl functional groups. A coupling agent as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)polysulfide having an average of from only 2 to 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge is used. The invention further relates to an article of manufacture, such as for example a tire, having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of said elastomer blend.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pneumatic tire having a rubberized component comprising: (a) 100 parts by weight of at least one rubber containing olefinic unsaturation; and (b) 1 to 110 phr of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a circumferential rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration which extends to a substantial portion an adjacent rubber sidewall and is designed to be ground-contacting. Said lug and groove configured portion of said sidewall is of a rubber composition comprised of a blend of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber which contains reinforcement as carbon black, starch/plasticizer composite and aggregates of participated silica together with a coupling agent. Said circumferential rubber tread is of a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based rubber together with carbon black reinforcement and is exclusive of starch and precipitated silica.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire having at least one component or a rubber composition comprised of a major portion of relatively low Tg high cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer (BR) and a minor portion of a relatively high Tg, styrene-rich, styrene/isoprene elastomer (SIR) wherein the Tg of said BR is at least 60° C. lower than the Tg of said SIR. Said SIR has a styrene content of at least 30 weight percent. The styrene based units of said SIR are present substantially without large blocks of styrene units. Said BR is a high cis 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis 1,4-content of at least 96 percent and preferably has a branched macrostructure. In one aspect of the invention, said tire component is a tire tread, particularly a circumferential tire tread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire of a structural combination of tire tread and sidewall components with compositional limitations containing minimal, if any, of in situ formed alcohol and methyl isobutyl ketone byproducts. The tread component rubber composition contains pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The sidewall component contains low unsaturation EPDM or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene and may contain pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The silica reinforcement for said tread and sidewall components is a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. The pre-hydrophobated silica is prepared, prior to mixing with the elastomer(s), by reacting hydroxyl groups (e.g.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire with rubber component which contains an electrically conductive carbon black and aramid pulp of fibrillated aramid fibers. Such rubber component is selected from at least one of sidewall, tread base for a tire having a tread of a tread/base construction and apex.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments, wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber sidewall composition of a lug and groove configuration which is designed to be ground contacting. Such sidewall configuration is of a rubber composition comprised of a blend of natural rubber and cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber which contains specified carbon black reinforcement and silica together with a coupling agent. The tire tread rubber composition differs from the rubber composition of said sidewall lug and groove configuration by being exclusive of silica and coupling agent and carbon black reinforcement exclusive of said specified carbon black.

Abstract: This invention discloses a pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads; wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting; wherein the tread is comprised of (a) about 60 phr to about 90 phr of a cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, wherein the cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about −104° C. to about −80° C., (b) about 10 phr to about 40 phr of at least one additional rubbery polymer selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, and styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, wherein the additional rubbery polymer has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about −30° C. to about −10° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of a carbon black and precipitated silica reinforced elastomer blend comprised of a combination of hydroxyl functionalized aqueous emulsion polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomer (E-SBR) and tin coupled organic solvent solution polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomer (S-SBR) and/or isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer. Preferably, said E-SBR is exclusive of functional groups reactive with alkoxy groups other than said hydroxyl functional groups. A coupling agent as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from only 2 to 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge is used. The invention further relates to an article of manufacture, such as for example a tire, having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of said elastomer blend.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer and functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer containing an internal silanol and/or siloxy group therein with pendent silanol and/or alkoxy groups of a polymodal (e.g. bimodal) molecular weight distribution and a dispersion therein of silica aggregates of which a portion thereof contain a plurality of hydroxyl groups on their surface in a form of geminal hydroxyl groups. In one aspect, said silica aggregates may be pre-treated to reduce said hydroxyl groups on their surface prior to blending with said silanol and/or siloxy functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a tread of a rubber composition comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer and functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer containing an internal silanol and/or siloxy group therein with pendent silanol and/or alkoxy groups of a polymodal (e.g. bimodal) molecular weight distribution, together with at least 30 phr of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and a dispersion in said rubber composition of precipitated silica aggregates and a coupling agent as a bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from only 2 to 2.5 sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge to the exclusion of a bis (3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide having an average of greater than 2.5, and particularly greater than 3, sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. In one aspect, said silica aggregates may be pre-treated to reduce said hydroxyl groups on their surface prior to blending with said silanol and/or siloxy functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SIBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SIBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.