Rubber prepared with precipitated silica and carbon black pellet composites of controlled hardness and tire with component derived therefrom

A tire having a tread of a rubber composition comprised of, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr):

• (A) at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer (100 phr);
• (B) about 20 to about 120 phr of reinforcing filler comprised of:
• (1) about 10 to about 110 phr of precipitated silica,
• (2) about 10 to about 110 phr of carbon black pellets, and
• (C) a coupling agent for said precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups contained on the surface of said precipitated silica and another different moiety interactive with said conjugated diene based elastomer(s);
• wherein said carbon black pellets are composites comprised of rubber reinforcing carbon black and an organic binder;
• wherein said carbon black pellets have a hardness value (ASTM D3313-88) in a range of from about 20 to about 35,
• wherein said rubber reinforcing carbon black has an Iodine value (ASTM D1510) in a range of from about 20 to about 200 g/kg and a DBP (dibutyl phthalate) value (ASTM D2414) in a range of from about 50 to about 200 cc/100 g, and
• wherein said conjugated diene-based elastomer is selected from polymers and copolymers of at least one of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene and copolymers of styrene and at least one of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene, and their mixtures.