Patent ID: 8383698

Claim:
A vulcanizable rubber composition comprising: (a) an elastomer; (b) a reinforcing filler comprising a selection from the group consisting of silica, carbon black, and mixtures thereof; (c) a plasticizer comprising a 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid ester, wherein 1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic acid ester is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to substantially replace an equivalent amount by weight of a phthalic acid ester plasticizer, wherein the composition is substantially free of a plasticizer comprising a phthalic acid ester, and wherein when the reinforcing filler comprises silica and the composition further comprises a selection from the group consisting of a silica coupling agent, a silica shielding agent, and mixtures thereof; and (d) a cure agent, wherein the composition is sulfur vulcanizable.