| abstract |
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread, the tread comprising a radially outermost, ground contacting tread cap and a tread base disposed radially inward of and underlying the tread cap, the tread cap comprising a central cap zone and lateral cap zones, the lateral cap zones located axially adjacent to the central cap zone and on axially opposite sides of the central cap zone, the central cap zone comprising a first rubber composition and the lateral cap zones comprising a second rubber composition, the first rubber composition comprising a diene elastomer, silica, a blocked mercaptosilane, a traction resin, and a low molecular weight polybutadiene functionalized with a hydroxyl functional group; the second rubber composition comprising a diene elastomer, silica, a blocked mercaptosilane, and a low molecular weight polybutadiene functionalized with an alkoxysilane functional group. |