Shear band having ultra-low hysteresis rubber

An annular shear band defining axial, radial and circumferential directions, the annular shear band comprising:

• an annular shear layer constructed from a rubber composition;
• a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned along a plurality of axially-oriented rows throughout the annular shear layer, the reinforcing elements separated from one another by a predetermined distance, each reinforcing element having a centerpoint, wherein the reinforcing elements are interlaced along the axial or radial direction of the shear band such that the centerpoints of reinforcing elements of adjacent, axially-oriented rows are arranged to form a rhombus having non-orthogonal angles between sides of the rhombus, wherein the rubber composition is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, in parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr):
• between 50 phr and 100 phr of a natural rubber;
• between 0 phr and 50 phr of a second rubber component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, a copolymer of polybutadiene and styrene wherein the copolymer has no more than 5 mol % styrene and combinations thereof;
• between 25 phr and 60 phr of a reinforcing fillers that is limited to a first portion that is a silica between 35 wt % and 70 wt % of the total reinforcing fillers and has a target surface area of between 40 m2/g and 55 m2/g and a second portion that is a carbon black between 30 wt % and 65 wt % of the total amount of the reinforcing fillers and has a target surface area of between 15 m2/g and 45 m2/g;
• between 0.5 phr and 2.5 phr an anti-reversion chemical hexamethylene 1,6-bis(thiosulphate), disodium salt, dihydrate and
• a sulfur cure system.