This invention relates to a silica reinforced rubber composition containing an ionic compound and article having a component thereof. The invention particularly relates to an article such as a rubber tire having a component of such rubber composition. Said ionic compound is composed of a combination of an organic cation moiety and an organic or inorganic anion moiety. Said ionic compound is desirably an ionically conductive ionic compound. The invention particularly relates to improvement of one or more physical properties of a rubber composition by an inclusion of such ionic compound and/or providing a path of least electrical resistance for a electrically resistive component of an article such as a tire by an inclusion in the rubber composition of said component of an ionically conductive ionic compound composed of a combination of an organic cation moiety and an organic or inorganic anion moiety.