A composition suitable for forming a sidewall for a tire includes a rubber
composition which includes at least one rubber, an
ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer, and a polyalkylene copolymer. The
rubber may include one or more natural or synthetic rubbers, such as
butadiene rubbers and isoprene rubbers. The ethylene/propylene/diene
terpolymer preferably has an ethylene content of at least 60%. The
polyalkylene copolymer may be a copolymer of a polyalkylene and an
.alpha.-olefin, which is formed in a polymerization reaction involving a
single site catalyst. The polyalkylene copolymer preferably has a high
degree of crystallinity, being preferably at least about 90% by weight
ethylene, with a melting point in the range of 80.degree. C. 120.degree.
C. The presence of such a copolymer in the rubber composition markedly
increases the resistance to crack growth and formation of cracks in the
tire sidewall.