A rubber composition comprising: a diene based elastomer; and an adhesion promoter derived from a flavone; and the reaction product of (a) a methylene donor selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetramine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, imino-methoxymethylmelamine, imino-isobutoxymethylmelamine, lauryloxymethylpyridinium chloride, ethoxymethylpyridinium chloride, trioxan hexamethoxymethylmelamine and N-substituted oxymethyl melamines of the formula: wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the group -CH 2 OX and their condensation products; and (b) a methylene acceptor selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, resorcinolic derivatives, monohydric phenols and their derivatives, dihydric phenols and their derivatives, polyhydric phenols and their derivatives, unmodified phenol novolak resins, modified phenol novolak resins, phenol formaldehyde resins, and resorcinol novolak resins; wherein the rubber composition comprises less than 0.1 phr of cobalt. a diene based elastomer; and an adhesion promoter derived from a flavone; and the reaction product of (a) a methylene donor selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetramine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, imino-methoxymethylmelamine, imino-isobutoxymethylmelamine, lauryloxymethylpyridinium chloride, ethoxymethylpyridinium chloride, trioxan hexamethoxymethylmelamine and N-substituted oxymethyl melamines of the formula: wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the group -CH 2 OX and their condensation products; and (b) a methylene acceptor selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, resorcinolic derivatives, monohydric phenols and their derivatives, dihydric phenols and their derivatives, polyhydric phenols and their derivatives, unmodified phenol novolak resins, modified phenol novolak resins, phenol formaldehyde resins, and resorcinol novolak resins; wherein the rubber composition comprises less than 0.1 phr of cobalt. a flavone; and the reaction product of (a) a methylene donor selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetramine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, imino-methoxymethylmelamine, imino-isobutoxymethylmelamine, lauryloxymethylpyridinium chloride, ethoxymethylpyridinium chloride, trioxan hexamethoxymethylmelamine and N-substituted oxymethyl melamines of the formula: wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the group -CH 2 OX and their condensation products; and (b) a methylene acceptor selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, resorcinolic derivatives, monohydric phenols and their derivatives, dihydric phenols and their derivatives, polyhydric phenols and their derivatives, unmodified phenol novolak resins, modified phenol novolak resins, phenol formaldehyde resins, and resorcinol novolak resins; (a) a methylene donor selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetramine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, imino-methoxymethylmelamine, imino-isobutoxymethylmelamine, lauryloxymethylpyridinium chloride, ethoxymethylpyridinium chloride, trioxan hexamethoxymethylmelamine and N-substituted oxymethyl melamines of the formula: wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the group -CH 2 OX and their condensation products; and (b) a methylene acceptor selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, resorcinolic derivatives, monohydric phenols and their derivatives, dihydric phenols and their derivatives, polyhydric phenols and their derivatives, unmodified phenol novolak resins, modified phenol novolak resins, phenol formaldehyde resins, and resorcinol novolak resins;