First direction ridge patterns and second direction ridge patterns are lined-up alternately at a decorative concave portion 18. Plural main ridges 22A through 22D and sub-ridges 26A through 26D, which project-out from a bottom surface 18A, are formed at a first direction ridge pattern 20. The respective ridges are disposed in parallel such that ridge extending directions are a same direction. Light reflection patterns are different at a main ridge region 24, 34 and a sub-ridge region 28, 38.

A rubber composition contains: (A) a polymer having a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and exhibiting a value α of 0.6 or more as obtained by the following formula (i):
α=(p+(0.5×r))/(p+q+(0.5×r)+s)  (i)
wherein p, q, r, and s are the proportions by mole of structural units represented by the following formulae (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively in the polymer: ##STR00001## and (B) modified silica.

The present disclosure is directed to rubber compositions containing a chemical additive capable of generating or enhancing strain-induced crystallization into the compositions, and tires containing the rubber compositions in one or more components such as sidewalls or treads. The chemical additive is at least one fatty acid amide compound of formula (I). As well, certain embodiments relate to methods for achieving reduced wear or improved durability in a tire tread or tire sidewall by using the chemical additives.

According to the process for preparing a vulcanized rubber composition of the invention comprising (a) a step of preparing a master batch comprising a modified conjugated diene polymer and silica, (b) a step of preparing a master batch comprising an isoprene rubber and silica, (c) a step of kneading the master batch obtained in (a) and the master batch obtained in (b), and (d) a step of vulcanizing a kneaded product obtained in (c), wherein the obtained vulcanized rubber composition comprises a phase A comprising a modified conjugated diene polymer and a phase B comprising an isoprene rubber, which are incompatible with each other, an abundance ratio α of silica in the phase A satisfies 0.5≦α≦0.9 (Relation 1), and a proportion β of the modified conjugated diene polymer satisfies 0.4≦β≦0.8 (Relation 2) it is possible to improve performance on ice and abrasion resistance and to provide a vulcanized rubber composition having excellent performance on ice and abrasion resistance, and a studless tire with a tread made using the same.

The present disclosure is directed to rubber compositions containing a chemical additive capable of generating or enhancing strain-induced crystallization into the compositions, and tires containing the rubber compositions in one or more components such as sidewalls or treads. The chemical additive is at least one nucleating agent of formula (I) or formula (II). As well, certain embodiments relate to methods for achieving reduced wear or improved durability in a tire tread or tire sidewall by using the chemical additives.

A pneumatic tire includes, on a surface of a side rubber provided on sidewall portions, a two-dimensional code in which a dot pattern is formed by two types of gray scale elements distinguishable from each other by irregularities on the surface. Dot holes are formed in the two-dimensional code, corresponding to dark elements of the gray scale elements. The side rubber is a diene rubber including butadiene rubber, and when A is a blended amount of the butadiene rubber relative to 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber contained in the side rubber and when B is a blended amount of carbon, a ratio A/B and a hole depth D (mm) from an opening of the dot hole to a hole bottom satisfies a relationship of 1.1≤(A/B)/D≤6.0.

The present invention provides a pneumatic tire with well improved fuel economy, rubber tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire formed from a rubber composition, the rubber composition containing: a hydrogenated copolymer obtained by copolymerization of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene compound, the hydrogenated copolymer having a degree of hydrogenation of the conjugated diene units of 75 mol % or more; silica; and a silane coupling agent 1 containing a carbonylthio group (—S—C(═O)—) but no mercapto group (—SH) and/or a silane coupling agent 2 containing a mercapto group (—SH), the rubber composition containing, per 100% by mass of a rubber component, 75% by mass or more of the hydrogenated copolymer.

A rubber composition comprising silica that has a BET specific surface area of not more than 130 m.sup.2/g and hardness of granulated particles as measured based on JIS K6221-1982 6.3.3 of not less than 23.5 cN can provide a rubber composition which is excellent in rubber physical properties while maintaining energy efficiency. A tire comprising a component consisted of the rubber composition can be also provided.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A dialkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in combination with a base material. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.