Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes in silica-filled rubber with low volatile organic chemical evolution

A pneumatic tire including at least one component comprising a vulcanized rubber compound made from a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising:

• (a) an elastomer;
• (b) a reinforcing filler selected from silica, carbon black, and mixtures thereof;
• (c) an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane (AMS) comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino/mercaptan co-AMS, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-AMS, mixtures thereof, and weak acid-neutralized solid and aqueous solutions thereof, and having the formula
• wherein w, x, y and z represent mole fractions, z does not equal zero, at least one of w, x or y must also be present, and w+x+y+z=1.00;
• wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 must be present and selected from the group consisting of R6Z, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of NH2, HNR7 and NR72;
• and the remaining R1, R2, R3 or R4 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iv) R6X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, SaR7, NR72, OR7, CO2H, SCOR7, CO2R7, OH, olefins, epoxides, amino groups, vinyl groups, acrylates and methacrylates, wherein a=1 to about 8, and (v) R6YR8X, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH and NR7;
• wherein R6 and R8 are selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond;
• and R5 and R7 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• and
• (d) a cure agent.