Abstract: This invention discloses a process for the synthesis of a rubbery polymer by emulsion polymerization that comprised polymerizing (1) a conjugated diolefin monomer and (2) a functionalized monomer having the structural formula: wherein the R1 groups can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, and wherein R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, with the proviso that if R3 represent an alkyl group then R4 represents a hydrogen atom, and with the proviso that R4 represents an alkyl group then R3 represents a hydrogen atom, wherein said polymerization is conducted in an aqueous medium, and wherein said polymerization is initiated with a free radical initiator.

Abstract: This invention relates to tires wherein at least a portion of its tire tread containing a running surface is of a rubber composition comprised of a functionalized elastomer, silica reinforcement, particularly precipitated silica aggregates which contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) and a blocked alkoxyorganomercaptosilane coupling agent. The rubber composition may constitute the entire, or major portion of, the running surface of the tread or may be limited to only a longitudinal circumferential strip, or portion, of the running surface of the tread. Such functionalized elastomer is an elastomer which contains functional groups distributed along the polymer chain and/or at its terminal end. Such functional groups may be divided into two categories, namely, a first category which promotes adsorptive interactions with the precipitated silica and a second category which chemically bonds to the precipitated silica.