The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber
tread of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap / base construction; wherein the
tread cap is of a rubber composition which contains
carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a
visible surface of at least one groove is of a rubber composition exclusive of
carbon black and is of a non-black color and wherein said visible non-black
colored rubber composition is a rubber layer which underlies said
tread cap. Said visible non-black
colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black
colored rubber composition contains an amorphous
precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated
precipitated silica. In another aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition, and alternately,
carbon black containing black colored rubber compositions adjoining said non-black colored rubber composition, is comprised a blend of at least one
diene based
elastomer and a brominated
copolymer of
isobutylene and p-methylstyrene together with an organo phosphite.