Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 50 to about 100 phr of a first polybutadiene rubber comprising from 65 to 95 percent of repeat units derived from butadiene in cis-1,4 insertion, 4 to 30 percent by weight of repeat units derived from butadiene in vinyl-1,2 insertion, and less than or equal to 5 percent by weight of repeat units derived from butadiene in trans-1,4 insertion, ?80 to ?105° C.; (B) up to 50 phr of at least one rubber selected from the group consisting of a second polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content greater than 95 percent and a Tg ranging from ?80 to ?110° C., natural rubber, and synthetic polyisoprene having a cis-1,4 content greater than 95 percent by weight and a Tg ranging from ?50 to ?80° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a circumferentially extending equatorial plane of the tire, the tire comprising a carcass, a tread radially outward of the carcass, the carcass comprising a carcass reinforcing ply, opposing bead portions, and opposing sidewalls, the carcass reinforcing ply having a main portion extending between the opposing bead portions and a pair of turnup portions, each turnup portion extending from one end of the main portion, the carcass ply further comprising reinforcing cords and a plycoat; each bead portion having a bead core and a bead apex, each apex being in contact with the plycoat; the plycoat comprising a vulcanizable plycoat rubber composition comprising a first methylene acceptor; the apex comprising a vulcanizable apex rubber composition comprising a second methylene acceptor and a methylene donor, wherein the amount of methylene donor is in stoichiometric excess relative to the second methylene acceptor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture having a wire-reinforced component comprising (A) a metallic wire; and (B) a rubber composition contacting the wire, the rubber composition comprising (1) a diene based elastomer; and (2) a tin(II) carboxylate salt.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprising an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer; wherein said tread cap layer comprises at least two circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones; wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said at least two tread cap zones comprises a first tread cap zone and a second tread cap zone adjacent to the first tread cap zone; the first tread cap zone and the second tread cap zone each independently comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing a pre-treated precipitated silica and a tire having a component comprised of such rubber composition. The pre-treated silica is a precipitated silica having been pre-treated with a silica coupling agent comprised of an alkoxyorganomercaptosilane to form a precipitated silica/coupling agent composite prior to its blending with a rubber composition. The rubber composition preparation involves reacting said pretreated silica/coupling agent composite with a combination of bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfides in situ within the rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing a pre-treated precipitated silica and a tire having a component comprised of such rubber composition. The pre-treated silica is a precipitated silica having been pre-treated with a silica coupling agent comprised of an alkoxyorganomercaptosilane to form a precipitated silica/coupling agent composite prior to its blending with a rubber composition. The rubber composition preparation involves reacting said pretreated silica/coupling agent composite with a combination of bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)polysulfides in situ within the rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a cap/base configuration comprised of an outer tread cap rubber layer, with a tread running surface, and an underlying tread base rubber layer, where the base rubber layer contains syndiotactic polybutadiene with a diverse blend of carbon blacks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a cap/base configuration comprised of an outer tread cap rubber layer, with a tread running surface, and an underlying tread base rubber layer, where the base rubber layer contains syndiotactic polybutadiene with a diverse blend of carbon blacks.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, (B) 20 to 60 phr of a second styrene-butadiene rubber, (C) 5 to 20 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?110° C. to ?90° C.; (D) 30 to 60 phr of processing oil; (E) 5 to 20 phr of carbon black having an Iodine absorption ranging from 130 to 210 g/kg according to ASTM D-1510 and an oil absorption ranging from 110 to 140 cc/100 g according to ASTM D-2414; (F) 80 to 130 phr of silica; (G) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound; and (H) 5 to 20 phr of resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, (A) 10 to 40 phr of a polybutadiene rubber having a microstructure comprised of about 96 to about 98 percent cis 1,4-isomeric units, about 1 to about 3 percent trans 1,4-isomeric units and about 0.3 to about 1 percent vinyl 1,2-content; Mn ranging from about 230,000 to about 250,000 with a heterogeneity index ranging from about 1.5/1 to about 2/1, and a Tg ranging from about ?104 to about ?109° C.; (B) 60 to 90 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber functionalized with an alkoxysilane group and a primary amine group; (C) 60 to 100 phr of silica having a CTAB of between 40 and 525 m2/g, a BET of between 45 and 550 m2/g; and (D) less than 5 phr of carbon black.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprising an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer; wherein said tread cap layer comprises at least two circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones; wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said at least two tread cap zones comprises a first tread cap zone and a second tread cap zone adjacent to the first tread cap zone; the first tread cap zone and the second tread cap zone each independently comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: from 70 to 90 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber functionalized with an alkoxysilane group and at least one of a primary amine group and thiol group; from 10 to 30 phr of at least one additional diene based elastomer; from 60 to 100 phr of precipitated silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a polyoctenamer; from 5 to 25 phr of a starch/plasticizer composite; and from 10 to 20 phr of a tackifying resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, wherein the first styrene-butadiene rubber is i) a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 30 to 50 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of from 10 to 40 percent by weight based on the rubber weight, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about —20° C.; or ii) an emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 30 to 50 percent by weight, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about ?20° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of beads, apexes, and sidewall veneers, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; an epoxidized palm oil; wherein the rubber composition comprises less than 1 phr of stearic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a lug and groove configured rubber tread having an outer rubber cap layer with a running surface and an underlying specialized transition rubber layer. The transition rubber layer is specialized in a sense of containing at least one of partially depolymerized rubber, particulate pre-cured rubber and coal dust. The outer tread cap layer is comprised of ground-contacting tread lugs with the tread running surface and associated tread grooves positioned between said tread lugs. The tread grooves may extend radially inward through the outer tread cap layer and, optionally, into the transition tread layer. The rubber tread configuration may also optionally also include a tread base rubber layer underlying the transition rubber layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.

Abstract: The plasticity of a tread composition may advantageously be increased by incorporating, for example, a relatively small amount of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”). A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from the combination of components including: a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer containing olefinic unsaturation; a reinforcing filler; a mineral oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rubbery block polymers containing a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, methods of making the same, and to rubber compounds containing those block polymers. The rubbery block polymer is an anionically polymerized block polymer defined by A-B, wherein A includes at least one type of polymerized conjugated diene monomer, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, or a mixture thereof and wherein B is a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, which is hydroxy terminated. The rubbery block polymer may be compounded so to provide, for example, a tire tread with desirable properties for use in an automobile tire. Such rubber compound, for example, can include the rubbery block polymer, an organosilane coupling agent, such as a bis(trialkoxysilyl) alkane, bis(trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide, or mixtures thereof, and silica filler in specified amounts.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including at least one component having a rubber composition including at least one diene based elastomer and a silica that prior to mixing with said elastomer is prehydrophobated with a fluorinated silane of the following formula: Rf—R1—SiX3-x—R2x ??I wherein Rf is a perfluorinated group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; R1 is a divalent alkylene group, arylene group or mixture thereof, substituted with one or more heteroatoms or functional groups, containing about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R2 is a lower alkyl group; X is a halide, a lower alkoxy group or an acyloxy group; and x is 0 or 1.