Patent ID: 6900263
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: B60C,C08L

Abstract:
1. A method for delaying, during travel, appearance of irregular wear in a tread of a tire suitable for bearing heavy loads, the method comprising: preparing by thermomechanical working a rubber composition comprising: (a) an elastomeric matrix comprising a functionalized diene elastomer co-polymer formed from a conjugated diene monomer and a vinyl-aromatic compound, the co-polymer having a glass transition temperature of between −70° C. and −20° C. and a mass content of vinyl-aromatic units of from 10% to 50%, the elastomer having at one or more of its chain ends a functional group which is active for coupling to a reinforcing white filler, the functional group being selected from the group consisting of a silanol group and a polysiloxane block having a silanol end; (b) a reinforcing filler comprising at least 50% by weight of silica, the silica having a CTAB specific surface area of from 80 m (c) a reinforcing white filler/functionalized diene elastomer bonding agent; and forming the tread from the composition.