The reduction of hysteresis in a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric
compound is produced by mixing diene monomer and optionally monovinyl
aromatic monomer with an initiator and a coordinator; effecting
polymerization conditions; terminating polymerization with a terminator
containing an organo-tin group to form a tin-coupled diene elastomer;
compounding the tin-coupled diene elastomer with an amorphous silica
filler and a vulcanization agent; and, effecting vulcanization. A
pneumatic tire tread stock incorporating the vulcanized elastomer compound
exhibits decreased rolling resistance in the tire.