Precipitated silica use improves the lab predictors of a passenger car radial tire tread compared to carbon black. Wet traction is improved by increasing the measured tangent delta at 0°C, and rolling resistance is improved by decreasing the measured tangent delta at 60°C.
To maintain wear resistance, silica should be dispersed to a similar degree as carbon black, but in addition needs to efficiently react with the bifunctional organosilane coupling agent. Because European regulations already in effect mandate the labeling of all tires for rolling resistance, wet traction and noise levels, silica use in tire treads is expected to increase even further. We have studied a model PCR tire tread formulation...