An annular shear band defining axial, radial and circumferential directions, the annular shear band comprising: an annular shear layer constructed from a rubber composition; a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned along a plurality of axially-oriented rows throughout the annular shear layer, the reinforcing elements separated from one another by a predetermined distance, each reinforcing element having a centerpoint, wherein the reinforcing elements are interlaced along the axial or radial direction of the shear band such that the centerpoints of reinforcing elements of adjacent, axially-oriented rows are arranged to form a rhombus having non-orthogonal angles between sides of the rhombus , characterized in that the rubber composition is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, in parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): between 50 phr and 100 phr of a natural rubber; between 0 phr and 50 phr of a second rubber component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, a copolymer of polybutadiene and styrene wherein the copolymer has no more than 5 mol% styrene and combinations thereof; between 15 phr and 40 phr of a reinforcing filler that comprises at least 5 phr but no more than 35 phr of a total amount of a carbon black, the total amount of the carbon black limited to a first portion having a target surface area of between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g and between 0 phr and 5 phr of a second portion having its surface area of other than between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g; and a sulfur cure system. an annular shear layer constructed from a rubber composition; a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned along a plurality of axially-oriented rows throughout the annular shear layer, the reinforcing elements separated from one another by a predetermined distance, each reinforcing element having a centerpoint, wherein the reinforcing elements are interlaced along the axial or radial direction of the shear band such that the centerpoints of reinforcing elements of adjacent, axially-oriented rows are arranged to form a rhombus having non-orthogonal angles between sides of the rhombus , characterized in that the rubber composition is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, in parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): between 50 phr and 100 phr of a natural rubber; between 0 phr and 50 phr of a second rubber component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, a copolymer of polybutadiene and styrene wherein the copolymer has no more than 5 mol% styrene and combinations thereof; between 15 phr and 40 phr of a reinforcing filler that comprises at least 5 phr but no more than 35 phr of a total amount of a carbon black, the total amount of the carbon black limited to a first portion having a target surface area of between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g and between 0 phr and 5 phr of a second portion having its surface area of other than between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g; and a sulfur cure system. between 50 phr and 100 phr of a natural rubber; between 0 phr and 50 phr of a second rubber component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, a copolymer of polybutadiene and styrene wherein the copolymer has no more than 5 mol% styrene and combinations thereof; between 15 phr and 40 phr of a reinforcing filler that comprises at least 5 phr but no more than 35 phr of a total amount of a carbon black, the total amount of the carbon black limited to a first portion having a target surface area of between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g and between 0 phr and 5 phr of a second portion having its surface area of other than between 25 m 2 /g and 39 m 2 /g; and a sulfur cure system. <EOS>