The present invention provides a method for preparing a copolymer useful
for the manufacture of tires by coupling the ends of a living polymer
obtained from copolymerization of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic
monomer in the presence of an organolithium catalyst and a hydrocarbon
solvent with a multi-reactive polysiloxane compound and then modifying
the remaining uncoupled ends of the polymer with an amine compound. The
use of the copolymer thus obtained for the fabrication of tires improves
the affinity to silica as well as carbon black used as a reinforcing
material and provides enhanced properties required for tires, such as
increased wet traction, reduced rolling resistance, and increased tread
wear.