Patent ID: 7951861

Claim:
A method of decreasing the rolling resistance of a tire formed from a sulfur-vulcanized elastomeric composition comprising the steps of: combining at least one diene elastomer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene and poly(styrene/butadiene) and at least one reinforcing filler, with an effective amount of a coupling agent consisting of a combination of: 50 to 70%, of a product (I) consisting of a blend of poly(alkylphenol) polysulfides of formula: in which: R is a tert-butyl or tert-pentyl radical; n and n′ are two integers, in which the average value of n and of n′ is about 2 and the average value of p is about 5; and 30 to 50% of a product (II) consisting of bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, to form a mixture wherein the weight ration of (I)/(II) is from 1 to 3; thereafter working said mixture; and thereafter heating said mixture to vulcanize said mixture.