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 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 present invention reveals a tire having a tread that is comprised of (1) 30 phr to 80 phr of a non-random styrene-butadiene rubber comprised of polymer chains that are derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, wherein from about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the repeat units in the styrene-butadiene rubber are derived from styrene, wherein from about 60 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the repeat units in the styrene-butadiene rubber are derived from 1,3-butadiene, wherein from about 30 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the styrene repeat units are in sequences containing 5 to 20 styrene repeat units, wherein the bound styrene content found in the first half of the polymer chains differs from the bound styrene content found in the second half of the polymer chains by at least 5 weight percent, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a 1,2-vinyl content which is within the range of about 8 percent to about 20 percent, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a number

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 SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

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: 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 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 SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

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 SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

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: 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 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 SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

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.

Abstract: In tire tread formulations, blends of rubbers having low and high glass transition temperatures have significant advantages over blends made with rubbers having intermediate glass transition temperatures. However, blends of rubbers having low and high glass transition temperatures exhibit poor processability. This invention deals with improving the processability of tire tread formulations which are made by blending rubbers having both low and high glass transition temperatures that offer ultra low rolling resistance without sacrificing rolling resistance or tread wear characteristics. This invention more specifically discloses a tire tread rubber composition which is comprised of (a) about 60 phr to about 90 phr of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, wherein the high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about −104° C. to about −80° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having a tread of a cap/base construction wherein the tread cap is composed of trans 1,4-polybutadiene, solution polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and defined amounts of carbon black and amorphous silica reinforcement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread. The tread is composed of at least two defined elastomers having Tg's spaced apart by at least 55° C. to the exclusion of elastomers having Tg's between −30° and −85° C. The tread composition can be reinforced with either carbon black or a combination of carbon black and silica reinforcing fillers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire tread compound that is highly loaded with silica. This compound offers the advantages of silica compounding without the need for solution SBR. More specifically, the tire tread rubber formulations of this invention offer an excellent combination of traction, treadwear and rolling resistance characteristics. The subject invention discloses a 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 (1) 5 phr to 40 phr of a polyisoprene rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene, (2) 20 phr to 60 phr of high vinyl polybutadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature which is within the range of −40° C. to 10° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire tread compound that is easily processable which can be used to improve the treadwear, rolling resistance and traction characteristics of tires. The tire tread compounds of this invention are a blend of tin-coupled polybutadiene, high vinyl polybutadiene and natural rubber. This blend of low glass transition temperature rubber and high glass transition temperature rubber is surprisingly easy to process which makes the concept of this invention commercially feasible. Thus, the tire tread compounds of this invention can be utilized in making tires having greatly improved traction characteristics and treadwear without sacrificing rolling resistance. These improved properties may be due, in part, to better interaction and compatibility with carbon black and/or silica fillers. The polybutadiene in the blend can be asymmetrical tin-coupled to further improve the cold flow characteristics of the rubber blend.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire tread compound that is easily processable which can be used to improve the treadwear, rolling resistance and traction characteristics of tires. The tire tread compounds of this invention are a blend of tin-coupled polybutadiene, high vinyl polybutadiene and natural rubber. This blend of low glass transition temperature rubber and high glass transition temperature rubber is surprisingly easy to process which makes the concept of this invention commercially feasible. Thus, the tire tread compounds of this invention can be utilized in making tires having greatly improved traction characteristics and treadwear without sacrificing rolling resistance. These improved properties may be due, in part, to better interaction and compatibility with carbon black and/or silica fillers. The polybutadiene in the blend can be asymmetrical tin-coupled to further improve the cold flow characteristics of the rubber blend.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire tread compound that is easily processable which can be used to improve the treadwear, rolling resistance and traction characteristics of tires. The tire tread compounds of this invention are a blend of tin-coupled polybutadiene, high vinyl polybutadiene and natural rubber. This blend of low glass transition temperature rubber and high glass transition temperature rubber is surprisingly easy to process which makes the concept of this invention commercially feasible. Thus, the tire tread compounds of this invention can be utilized in making tires having greatly improved traction characteristics and treadwear without sacrificing rolling resistance. These improved properties may be due, in part, to better interaction and compatibility with carbon black and/or silica fillers. The polybutadiene in the blend can be asymmetrical tin-coupled to further improve the cold flow characteristics of the rubber blend.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a tread containing (a) from 50 to 90 phr (parts by weight of rubber per 100 total parts of rubber) of a rubber which, in its uncured state, has a glass transition temperature in the range of from -80.degree. C. to -110.degree. C. and (b) from 15 to 50 phr of a resin.