Silica is used in heavy duty tires to improve the puncture resistance and tear resistance of the tread. Precipitated silica is particularly suitable for use in its treads because it not only reduces rolling resistance, but also has low running temperatures. For heavy-duty tires, low driving temperatures or low heat generation are extremely important.

The combination of precipitated silica and carbon black can improve the performance of the tread of the truck tire. In the study of 60 parts of N231 carbon black heavy duty tire natural rubber tread rubber, 30 parts of precipitated silica was directly substituted for the carbon black, and then a mercapto silane coupling agent was added (the amount of the white carbon black was used. 1%, that is, the actual amount is 3 parts), and the result is improved the anti-cutting-shooting property of the tread rubber. On this basis, the amount of precipitated silica is increased, and a mercaptosilane coupling agent is used. The test results show that there is no adverse effect on heat generation and tread wear. Generally, the wear performance of a heavy-duty tire tread is reduced after using precipitated silica. Based on this, at present, the amount of silica in its tread compound is generally 15 parts.

Tests for replacing carbon black with a portion of white carbon black in another completed tire rubber natural rubber tread rubber show that high dispersibility silica improves the wear resistance, tensile strength and tear strength of the tread rubber. Aspects have obvious advantages. It is effective regardless of the amount used. In the replacement of N234 carbon black in the styrene-butadiene rubber tread rubber formulation of the load-bearing tire with 20 parts of precipitated silica, the rolling resistance was lowered and the tear strength was increased.

In the natural rubber truck tire tread rubber, when the silica modified with silane coupling agent completely replaces N220 carbon black, the rolling resistance is reduced by 30%, the wet road traction remains unchanged, and the tread wear index is only reduced. 5%. The use of TESPT and silica to reduce the rolling resistance of the tire tread rubber was first reported by S. Wolff in 1986.

In the absence of a silane coupling agent, the white carbon black destroys the vulcanization mechanism of the sulfur/accelerator, resulting in prolonged scorch time, reduced vulcanization rate, and reduced crosslink density.