| abstract |
The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap/base construction; wherein the tread cap is of a rubber composition which contains carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a visible surface of at least one groove is of a rubber composition exclusive of carbon black and is of a non-black color and wherein said visible non-black colored rubber composition is a rubber layer which underlies said tread cap. Said visible non-black colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition contains an amorphous precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. In another aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition, and alternately, carbon black containing black colored rubber compositions adjoining said non-black colored rubber composition, is comprised a blend of at least one diene based elastomer and a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene together with an organo phosphite. |