Rubber composition, method of formulating and blending the same and article and tires made therefrom

A vehicle tire comprising a tread formed from a composition comprising a vulcanized rubber mixture which comprises:

• A) at least one rubber component;
• B) at least one first gel as a filler, which comprises a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, and wherein at least the surface of the gel has groups selected from acid and base groups and combinations thereof, with the proviso that these groups have not been produced by means of reaction with dithiophosphoric acid;
• and,
• C) at least one second gel as an additional filler, which comprises a member selected from
• 1) a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel;
• and
• 2) at least one substance as an additional additive, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel, and combinations of 1) and 2).

A pneumatic tire formed from a composition comprising a vulcanized rubber mixture which comprises:

• A) at least one rubber component;
• B) at least one first gel as a filler, which comprises a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, and wherein at least the surface of the gel has groups selected from acid and base groups and combinations thereof, with the proviso that these groups have not been produced by means of reaction with dithiophosphoric acid;
• and,
• C) at least one second gel as an additional filler, which comprises a member selected from
• 1) a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel;
• and
• 2) at least one substance as an additional additive, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel, and combinations of 1) and 2).

A method of formulating and blending a composition comprising forming a mixture comprising at least one rubber component and at least one first gel as a filler, which comprises a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, and wherein at least the surface of the gel has groups selected from acid and base groups and combinations thereof, with the proviso that these groups have not been produced by means of reaction with dithiophosphoric acid;

• and adding at least one second gel as an additional filler, which comprises a member selected from
• 1) a rubber, has a particle size of from about 3×10−9 to about 1×10−6 m, and has a swelling index in toluene of from about 1 to about 15, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel;
• and
• 2) at least one substance as an additional additive, which is capable of undergoing a neutralization reaction with the acid or base groups of the at least one first gel, and combinations of 1) and 2).