The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Tire with tread to promote wet traction and reduce rolling resistance

Abstract:

This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a rubber composition for promoting a combination of beneficial wet traction and reduced rolling resistance, while limiting any loss of winter traction at low temperatures. The tread rubber composition contains a combination of high and lower glass transition temperature (Tg) elastomers. Its reinforcing filler is primarily precipitated silica. The high Tg elastomer is comprised of synthetic high vinyl polybutadiene rubber and the lower Tg elastomer is comprised of at least one of natural and synthetic cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. The tread rubber composition may contain at least one of vegetable oil based rubber processing aid and traction promoting resin. The tread rubber composition is intended to be exclusive of styrene-containing elastomers.