The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Pneumatic tire

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a radially outer cap layer and radially inner cap layer underlying the outer cap layer; the outer cap layer comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 80 to about 20 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from -85.degree. C. to -50.degree. C.; (B) from about 20 to about 80 phr of natural rubber; and (C) from 30 to 70 phr of a process oil; (D) from 70 to 150 phr of silica; wherein the weight ratio of silica to oil in the outer cap is less than 2.2; the inner cap layer comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising: (i) from about 60 to about 40 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from -85.degree. C. to -50.degree. C.; (ii) from about 40 to about 60 phr of natural rubber; (iii) from about 5 to 40 phr of a process oil; (iv) optionally, from about 5 to 15 phr of a hydrocarbon traction resin; and (v) from 60 to 90 phr of silica; wherein the weight ratio of silica to the sum of oil and traction resin is greater than 2.2.