The present invention is directed to a rubber compound, such as for use in
tires, containing one or more polyoxyalkylene amines, such as to reduce
the amount of silane coupling agent conventionally used therein. The
presence of the polyoxyalkylene amine(s) allows for the silane coupling
agent to be present in a low percent by weight of silica without
substantially sacrificing the performance characteristics of the rubber
compound. In one embodiment, the rubber compound includes 100 phr of a
natural elastomer, a synthetic elastomer, or combinations thereof, no
less than about 20 phr silica, a silane coupling agent present in an
amount no more than 8% by weight of the silica, and about 2 phr to about
10 phr of at least one polyoxyalkylene amine defined by a primary amino
group attached to the terminus of a polyether backbone.