An adhesive for coating steel to promote adhesion of rubber to the steel during cure, the adhesive comprising an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino/mercaptan co-AMS, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-AMS, and a weak acid-neutralized solid or aqueous solution thereof, and mixtures thereof, and having the formula wherein w, x, y and z represent mole fractions, z does not equal zero, at least one of w, x or y must also be present, and w +x + y +z = 1.00; wherein at least one of R 1, R 2, R 3 and R 4 must be present and selected from the group consisting of R 6 Z, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of NH 2, HNR and NR 7 2; and the remaining R 1, R 2, R 3 or R 4 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, (iv) R 6 X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, S a R 7, NR 7 2, OR 7, CO 2 H, SCOR 7, CO 2 R 7, OH, olefins, epoxides, amino groups, vinyl groups, acrylates and methacrylates, wherein a = 1 to 8, and (v) R 6 YR 8 X, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH and NR 7; wherein R 6 and R 8 are selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond; and R 5 and R 7 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the z alkoxy silyl group of the amino AMS or amino co-AMS adhesive generates 0.05% to 10% by weight alcohol of the adhesive when the adhesive is treated by substantially total acid hydrolysis. wherein w, x, y and z represent mole fractions, z does not equal zero, at least one of w, x or y must also be present, and w +x + y +z = 1.00; wherein at least one of R 1, R 2, R 3 and R 4 must be present and selected from the group consisting of R 6 Z, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of NH 2, HNR and NR 7 2; and the remaining R 1, R 2, R 3 or R 4 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, (iv) R 6 X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, S a R 7, NR 7 2, OR 7, CO 2 H, SCOR 7, CO 2 R 7, OH, olefins, epoxides, amino groups, vinyl groups, acrylates and methacrylates, wherein a = 1 to 8, and (v) R 6 YR 8 X, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH and NR 7; wherein R 6 and R 8 are selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond; and R 5 and R 7 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the z alkoxy silyl group of the amino AMS or amino co-AMS adhesive generates 0.05% to 10% by weight alcohol of the adhesive when the adhesive is treated by substantially total acid hydrolysis.