Rubber compositions and articles thereof

A composition, comprising:

• an elastomer;
• about 10 phr to about 150 phr of a conventional silica;
• about 0.5 phr to about 15 phr of a bismaleimide compound;
• about 0.5 phr to about 25 phr of an organosilane compound;
• and
• about 0.5 phr to about 15 phr of an alkoxysilane.

A method for mixing rubber, comprising a nonproductive stage and a productive stage, wherein the nonproductive stage comprises:

• combining together an elastomer, about 10 phr to about 150 phr of a conventional silica, about 0.5 phr to about 25 phr of a coupling agent comprising an organosilane compound, and about 0.5 phr to about 15 phr of an alkoxysilane, thereby forming an initial mixture;
• and
• mixing the initial mixture at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 170° C., thereby forming a nonproductive mixture;
• and
• wherein the productive stage comprises:
• combining together the nonproductive mixture with about 0.5 phr to about 15 phr of a reinforcing agent, wherein the reinforcing agent is a bismaleimide compound or a derivative thereof, and a curing agent, thereby forming an intermediate mixture;
• and
• mixing the intermediate mixture at a temperature of about 70° C. to about 120° C., thereby forming a productive mixture.