A method of preparing a rubber composition, the method comprising: preparing a preparatory rubber composition in the absence of sulfur comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of at least two individual and separate uncured rubber masterbatches, each comprising blending and intimately dispersing a reinforcing filler comprising of at least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and silica comprising at least one of precipitated silica and fumed silica in elastomer(s) comprising of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer, and blending the uncured rubber masterbatches together with a silica coupling agent to form a reactive rubber composition by: (a) blending at least two of the masterbatches together for which a silica coupling agent is blended therewith, following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, or (b) blending at least two of said masterbatches together in the presence of a silica coupling agent following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, and preparing a productive rubber composition by blending a rubber cure package comprising sulfur and at least one sulfur vulcanization accelerator with the reactive rubber composition. preparing a preparatory rubber composition in the absence of sulfur comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of at least two individual and separate uncured rubber masterbatches, each comprising blending and intimately dispersing a reinforcing filler comprising of at least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and silica comprising at least one of precipitated silica and fumed silica in elastomer(s) comprising of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer, and blending the uncured rubber masterbatches together with a silica coupling agent to form a reactive rubber composition by: (a) blending at least two of the masterbatches together for which a silica coupling agent is blended therewith, following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, or (b) blending at least two of said masterbatches together in the presence of a silica coupling agent following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, and preparing a plurality of at least two individual and separate uncured rubber masterbatches, each comprising blending and intimately dispersing a reinforcing filler comprising of at least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and silica comprising at least one of precipitated silica and fumed silica in elastomer(s) comprising of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer, and blending the uncured rubber masterbatches together with a silica coupling agent to form a reactive rubber composition by: (a) blending at least two of the masterbatches together for which a silica coupling agent is blended therewith, following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, or (b) blending at least two of said masterbatches together in the presence of a silica coupling agent following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, and (a) blending at least two of the masterbatches together for which a silica coupling agent is blended therewith, following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, or (b) blending at least two of said masterbatches together in the presence of a silica coupling agent following which the remainder of the masterbatches are blended therewith, and preparing a productive rubber composition by blending a rubber cure package comprising sulfur and at least one sulfur vulcanization accelerator with the reactive rubber composition.