Tread cap composition

a method of making a tire tread-cap composition, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber (“phr”), the method comprising the steps of:

• mixing, at a temperature in a range of from about 135° C. to about 180° C., ingredients including:
• 100 parts by weight of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer;
• from about 30 phr to about 130 phr of at least one reinforcing filler;
• from about 2 phr to about 55 phr of at least one oil softener selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil having a PCA content of less than about 3% by weight, a vegetable oil, and combinations thereof;
• and
• from about 4 phr to about 20 phr of at least one silane coupling agent, thereby forming a first mixture;
• subsequently mixing, at a temperature of less than about 135° C., ingredients including:
• the first mixture;
• and
• from about 2 phr to about 50 phr of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”),
• thereby forming a tire tread-cap composition.