Rubber containing starch reinforcement and tire having component thereof

A rubber composition which comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of at least one diene-based elastomer, (B) about 0.1 to about 120 phr of at least one elastomer reinforcing filler composed of (1) about 0.1 to about 120 phr of at least one starch-based material selected from at least one of starch, starch/plasticizer composite and modified starch, wherein said modified starch is selected from at least one of hydroxyethylated starch, oxidized starch and acid modified starch, and (2) zero to about 90 phr of (a) carbon black and amorphous silica, or (b) carbon black or amorphous silica, (C) optionally a coupling agent for said starch-based material and silica, if silica is used, where said coupler has a moiety reactive with the surface of said starch composite and the surface of said silica, as the case may be, and a moiety interactive with the said elastomer, and (D) at least one methylene acceptor compound and/or methylene donor compound exclusive of hexamethylene tetramine.