A method of preparing a pre-formed apex/bead assembly in the form of a pre-apexed bead, the method comprising: mixing a sulfur curable uncured rubber composition with a maximum mixing temperature in a range of from 140 to 170°C; and extruding the sulfur curable uncured rubber composition through a die to form and apply an uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) onto and circumferentially around the outer periphery of an annular bead whereby a peripheral outer portion of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) stretches to extend or travel a greater distance than the peripheral inner portion of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) around the annular bead, the annular bead comprising an uncured rubber encapsulated plurality of wire cords, to thereby produce the pre-formed apex/bead assembly as pre-apexed bead; wherein the rubber composition of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) comprises: at least one diene-based elastomer comprising at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene/butadiene rubber; from 1 to 10 or from 3 to 7 parts by weight thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene per 100 part by weight of the elastomer(s) contained in the apex rubber strip composition, wherein the syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene has a melting point in a range of from 180°C to 230°C or of from 200°C to 230°C and at least 10°C higher than the maximum mixing temperature for the preparation of the sulfur curable uncured rubber composition and is provided in the form of an alloy comprising said thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene with at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and polybutadiene rubber; from 30 to 120 phr of a reinforcing filler comprising: a carbon black, or a combination of a carbon black and silica together with a coupling agent for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s). mixing a sulfur curable uncured rubber composition with a maximum mixing temperature in a range of from 140 to 170°C; and extruding the sulfur curable uncured rubber composition through a die to form and apply an uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) onto and circumferentially around the outer periphery of an annular bead whereby a peripheral outer portion of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) stretches to extend or travel a greater distance than the peripheral inner portion of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) around the annular bead, the annular bead comprising an uncured rubber encapsulated plurality of wire cords, to thereby produce the pre-formed apex/bead assembly as pre-apexed bead; wherein the rubber composition of the uncured apex rubber strip (5 - Figure 4D) comprises: at least one diene-based elastomer comprising at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene/butadiene rubber; from 1 to 10 or from 3 to 7 parts by weight thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene per 100 part by weight of the elastomer(s) contained in the apex rubber strip composition, wherein the syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene has a melting point in a range of from 180°C to 230°C or of from 200°C to 230°C and at least 10°C higher than the maximum mixing temperature for the preparation of the sulfur curable uncured rubber composition and is provided in the form of an alloy comprising said thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene with at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and polybutadiene rubber; from 30 to 120 phr of a reinforcing filler comprising: a carbon black, or a combination of a carbon black and silica together with a coupling agent for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s). at least one diene-based elastomer comprising at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene/butadiene rubber; from 1 to 10 or from 3 to 7 parts by weight thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene per 100 part by weight of the elastomer(s) contained in the apex rubber strip composition, wherein the syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene has a melting point in a range of from 180°C to 230°C or of from 200°C to 230°C and at least 10°C higher than the maximum mixing temperature for the preparation of the sulfur curable uncured rubber composition and is provided in the form of an alloy comprising said thermoplastic syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene with at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and polybutadiene rubber; from 30 to 120 phr of a reinforcing filler comprising: a carbon black, or a combination of a carbon black and silica together with a coupling agent for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s). a carbon black, or a combination of a carbon black and silica together with a coupling agent for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s).