A method of providing a rubber composition, the method comprising: providing a first rubber composition comprising at least 50 parts by weight of carbon black per 100 parts by weight of rubber in the first rubber composition, wherein the one or more elastomer(s) in the first rubber composition comprise at least 50 weight percent cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber such as natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber with the remainder comprising cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber; providing a second rubber composition comprising one or more diene-based elastomer(s) and of from 40 to 80 parts by weight of silica, preferably precipitated silica, per 100 parts by weight of rubber in the second rubber composition together with a silica coupler for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with the one or more diene-based elastomer(s), wherein the one or more elastomer(s) in the second rubber composition comprise at least 50 weight percent cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber with the remainder comprising cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber; blending the first and second rubber compositions together to form a phased rubber composition, the phased rubber composition comprising a continuous first rubber phase comprising the first rubber composition and a second rubber phase as dispersed rubber domains in the first rubber phase, wherein the dispersed rubber domains comprise the second rubber composition, and wherein the phased rubber composition contains a maximum of 35 parts by weight of carbon black and from 20 to 50 parts by weight of silica per 100 parts by weight of rubbers contained in the phased rubber composition. providing a first rubber composition comprising at least 50 parts by weight of carbon black per 100 parts by weight of rubber in the first rubber composition, wherein the one or more elastomer(s) in the first rubber composition comprise at least 50 weight percent cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber such as natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber with the remainder comprising cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber; providing a second rubber composition comprising one or more diene-based elastomer(s) and of from 40 to 80 parts by weight of silica, preferably precipitated silica, per 100 parts by weight of rubber in the second rubber composition together with a silica coupler for the silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the silica and another different moiety interactive with the one or more diene-based elastomer(s), wherein the one or more elastomer(s) in the second rubber composition comprise at least 50 weight percent cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber with the remainder comprising cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber; blending the first and second rubber compositions together to form a phased rubber composition, the phased rubber composition comprising a continuous first rubber phase comprising the first rubber composition and a second rubber phase as dispersed rubber domains in the first rubber phase, wherein the dispersed rubber domains comprise the second rubber composition, and wherein the phased rubber composition contains a maximum of 35 parts by weight of carbon black and from 20 to 50 parts by weight of silica per 100 parts by weight of rubbers contained in the phased rubber composition.