Patent ID: 8119736

Claim:
A tire component comprising: a vulcanized product of a polymer or polymer composition including a branched polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) a branched polymer including a backbone, at least two branch points, and at least two branches extending from each of the branch points, where the backbone is characterized by a length at least 2.5 times the entanglement molecular weight of the backbone, where the branches are each characterized by a length at least 1 times the molecular weight of the branches, where the backbone is characterized by a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C., and where the backbone and the branches are miscible with one another; and (b) a polymer including a backbone having opposed ends, at least one branch point located at one opposed end, at least two branches extending from the at least one branch point, and filler interactive functional group at the other opposed end, where the backbone is characterized by a length at least 2.5 times the molecular weight of the backbone, where the branches are each characterized by a length t least 1 times the entanglement length of the branches, where the backbone is characterized by a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C., and where the backbone and the branches are miscible with one another.