A vulcanizable rubber composition having improved metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention properties with bright steel, the improvement wherein from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition is incorporated into the rubber composition prior to curing. Structural components for a pneumatic tire contain a cured rubber composition, having from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition, incorporated into the rubber compounds prior to curing. A method for improving metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention properties between a vulcanizable rubber composition and bright steel comprises the step of incorporating from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition into the rubber composition prior to curing.