This invention relates to a rubber composition and tire having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one
diene-based
elastomer, to the exclusion of butyl type elastomers, which contains an internal dispersion of
corncob granules. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire
tread and / or cord
reinforced rubber ply and / or belt. A tire
tread intended for winter driving, although not necessarily limited to winter driving, is provided of a rubber composition containing at least one
diene-based
sulfur vulcanizable
elastomer having a Tg below −30° C. and an internal dispersion therein of
corncob granules. The running surface of the tire
tread is configured with a combination of micro-protrusions of
corncob granules from said corncob granule internal dispersion and micro-cavities therein created by a release of a portion of the protruded corncob granules during the abrading, or wearing, of the tire tread running surface as the tire is being run. At least a portion of said corncob granular micro-protrusions may be covered by a relatively
thin membrane of tread rubber. The corncob granules may be
colored with a suitable colorant of a non-black color to contrast with the tire tread color to better visualize their presence on the tread running surface. The tire tread rubber composition may optionally also contain a
starch /
plasticizer composite,
sorbitan ester,
methylene donor compound,
methylene acceptor compound or combination of
methylene donor and
acceptor compounds, and may be reinforced with
carbon black, synthetic
amorphous silica aggregates or their combination.