| abstract |
A branched styrene-butadiene copolymer and a pneumatic tire using the same as a tread base rubber are disclosed. This copolymer is produced by coupling an active styrene-butadiene copolymer anion, which is obtained by polymerizing styrene and butadiene in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of ether or a tertiary amine and an initiator of an organolithium compound, with a tin halide compound. In the copolymer, the ratio of branched copolymer connected with tin-butadienyl bond is at least 20% by weight, and the content of bound styrene is not less than 3% by weight but less than 25% by weight, and the content of vinyl bond in butadiene portion is not less than 30% but less than 50%. |