https://www.thoughtco.com/silica-enh...pounds-3234486
According to this, the benefit is from hysterisis:
Quote:
|
Somehow, the use of silane allows both natural and synthetic rubber to bond together much tighter at a molecular level, and produces a rubber compound that has both low hysteresis at low frequencies and high hysteresis at high frequencies, allowing tire engineers to literally both have and eat their cake. The magic triangle has been blown to smithereens by the magic compound. According to a paper on this issue in the journal Rubber World: “The use of silica can result in a reduction in rolling resistance of 20% and can also improve wet skid performance by as much as 15%, substantially improving braking distances at the same time.
|
I don't have a lot invested in this, I'm just gathering information in anticipation of a new set of tires.