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Abstract

A vulcanized elastomeric composition of matter comprises the reaction product of a sulfur-containing reagent with an anionic living polymer, the reagent being selected from the group consisting of R.sub.3 --Si--S--R'--X, where R can all be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or an arylene having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and X is a halogen, to form a R.sub.3 --Si--S--R' ended polymer; a filler; processing oil; and a cure package containing a deprotecting agent and at least one sulfur cure accelerator. A method for making a vulcanized elastomeric composition of matter comprises terminating a living anionic polymer with a sulfur-containing reagent selected from the group consisting of R.sub.3 --Si--S--R'--X, where R can all be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or aryls having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R' is an alkylene having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or an arylene having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and X is a halogen, to form a R.sub.3 --Si--S--R' polymer having a protected mercapto group; deprotecting the mercapto group prior to or during vulcanization of the composition, and attaching the mercapto group to a polymer backbone of one of the polymers. A method is also provided for reducing hysteresis and the invention provides improved pneumatic tires.

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First Claim