Rubber composition

A method of producing a rubber composition, comprising a first step of kneading a rubber component, silica, and a compound represented by the formula (I):

• wherein m and n are each independently 0-3,
• R1 and R2 are each independently a halogen atom, a C1-18 alkyl group optionally having substituent(s), a C3-10 cycloalkyl group optionally having substituent(s), a C6-18 aryl group optionally having substituent(s), a C7-20 aralkyl group optionally having substituent(s), a carboxy group, a C1-18 alkoxy-carbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a C3-10 cycloalkyloxy-carbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a C6-18 aryloxy-carbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a C7-20 aralkyloxy-carbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a carbamoyl group optionally having substituent(s), a hydroxy group, a C1-18 alkoxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C3-10 cycloalkyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C6-18 aryloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C7-20 aralkyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C1-18 alkyl-carbonyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C3-10 cycloalkyl-carbonyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C6-18 aryl-carbonyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), a C7-20 aralkyl-carbonyloxy group optionally having substituent(s), an amino group optionally having substituent(s), or a nitro group, when m is 2 or 3, multiple R1s may be the same or different, when n is 2 or 3, multiple R2s may be the same or different, to prepare a kneaded composition, and
• a second step of kneading the kneaded composition with a vulcanization accelerator.