Amendments to the Claims 1. (Cu rr ently amended) A method of preparing rubber composition containing reinforcing filler comprised of comprised of, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) Blending in at least one sequential preparatory mixing step at a temperature in a range of from about 70 ° C to about 170°C, (1) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (2) about 30 to about 120 phr of rubber reinforcing filler comprised of about 0.5 to about 30 phr of graphene together with a specialized coupling agent, and (a) rubber reinforcing carbon black, or (b) combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica, together with silica coupler for the precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica and another, different, moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said specialized coupling agent has a moiety with pi electrons to create a pi- pi network with the graphene and another polysulfide or thiol moiety to interact with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said thiol moiety of said specialized coupler is chemically blocked from appreciably interacting with said diene-based elastomer(s) with a compound containing least one of dithiobenzoate, trithiocarbonate, thioester, and polysulfide groups containing from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur groups.

canceled

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein said silica coupler is comprised of at least one of: (A) bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge, and (B) alkoxyorganomercaptosilane.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein the reinforcing filler is comprised of graphene and as least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica wherein the graphene is comprised of exfoliated graphene platelets.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1-pyrenemethyhl trithiocarbonate, 1- phenanthrene methyl trithiocarbonate and anthracene-9-methyhltrithiocarbonate.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of compounds represented by Formula II comprised of 1-pyrenemethyl methacrylate having a carbon-to-carbon double bond available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature as: SVG 13941583.05-26-2015.IA₅KRPBNPXXIFW3.CLM.3.svg 1.63 2.06 Black and white

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said -5- specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1,3-di-(2-pyrenyl) propyl polysulphide and thiolpropyl pyrene with the polysulphide or thiol groups available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during the curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature.

Amendments to the Claims 1. (Cu rr ently amended) A method of preparing rubber composition containing reinforcing filler comprised of comprised of, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) Blending in at least one sequential preparatory mixing step at a temperature in a range of from about 70 ° C to about 170°C, (1) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (2) about 30 to about 120 phr of rubber reinforcing filler comprised of about 0.5 to about 30 phr of graphene together with a specialized coupling agent, and (a) rubber reinforcing carbon black, or (b) combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica, together with silica coupler for the precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica and another, different, moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said specialized coupling agent has a moiety with pi electrons to create a pi- pi network with the graphene and another polysulfide or thiol moiety to interact with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said thiol moiety of said specialized coupler is chemically blocked from appreciably interacting with said diene-based elastomer(s) with a compound containing least one of dithiobenzoate, trithiocarbonate, thioester, and polysulfide groups containing from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur groups.

canceled

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein said silica coupler is comprised of at least one of: (A) bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge, and (B) alkoxyorganomercaptosilane.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein the reinforcing filler is comprised of graphene and as least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica wherein the graphene is comprised of exfoliated graphene platelets.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1-pyrenemethyhl trithiocarbonate, 1- phenanthrene methyl trithiocarbonate and anthracene-9-methyhltrithiocarbonate.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of compounds represented by Formula II comprised of 1-pyrenemethyl methacrylate having a carbon-to-carbon double bond available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature as: SVG 13941583.05-26-2015.IA₅KRPBNPXXIFW3.CLM.3.svg 1.63 2.06 Black and white

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said -5- specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1,3-di-(2-pyrenyl) propyl polysulphide and thiolpropyl pyrene with the polysulphide or thiol groups available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during the curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature.

Amendments to the Claims 1. (Cu rr ently amended) A method of preparing rubber composition containing reinforcing filler comprised of comprised of, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) Blending in at least one sequential preparatory mixing step at a temperature in a range of from about 70 ° C to about 170°C, (1) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (2) about 30 to about 120 phr of rubber reinforcing filler comprised of about 0.5 to about 30 phr of graphene together with a specialized coupling agent, and (a) rubber reinforcing carbon black, or (b) combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica, together with silica coupler for the precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica and another, different, moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said specialized coupling agent has a moiety with pi electrons to create a pi- pi network with the graphene and another polysulfide or thiol moiety to interact with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said thiol moiety of said specialized coupler is chemically blocked from appreciably interacting with said diene-based elastomer(s) with a compound containing least one of dithiobenzoate, trithiocarbonate, thioester, and polysulfide groups containing from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur groups.

canceled

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein said silica coupler is comprised of at least one of: (A) bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge, and (B) alkoxyorganomercaptosilane.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein the reinforcing filler is comprised of graphene and as least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica wherein the graphene is comprised of exfoliated graphene platelets.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1-pyrenemethyhl trithiocarbonate, 1- phenanthrene methyl trithiocarbonate and anthracene-9-methyhltrithiocarbonate.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of compounds represented by Formula II comprised of 1-pyrenemethyl methacrylate having a carbon-to-carbon double bond available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature as: SVG 13941583.05-26-2015.IA₅KRPBNPXXIFW3.CLM.3.svg 1.63 2.06 Black and white

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said -5- specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1,3-di-(2-pyrenyl) propyl polysulphide and thiolpropyl pyrene with the polysulphide or thiol groups available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during the curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature.

Amendments to the Claims 1. (Cu rr ently amended) A method of preparing rubber composition containing reinforcing filler comprised of comprised of, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) Blending in at least one sequential preparatory mixing step at a temperature in a range of from about 70 ° C to about 170°C, (1) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (2) about 30 to about 120 phr of rubber reinforcing filler comprised of about 0.5 to about 30 phr of graphene together with a specialized coupling agent, and (a) rubber reinforcing carbon black, or (b) combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica, together with silica coupler for the precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica and another, different, moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said specialized coupling agent has a moiety with pi electrons to create a pi- pi network with the graphene and another polysulfide or thiol moiety to interact with said diene-based elastomer(s), wherein said thiol moiety of said specialized coupler is chemically blocked from appreciably interacting with said diene-based elastomer(s) with a compound containing least one of dithiobenzoate, trithiocarbonate, thioester, and polysulfide groups containing from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur groups.

canceled

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein said silica coupler is comprised of at least one of: (A) bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge, and (B) alkoxyorganomercaptosilane.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 9 wherein the reinforcing filler is comprised of graphene and as least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica wherein the graphene is comprised of exfoliated graphene platelets.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1-pyrenemethyhl trithiocarbonate, 1- phenanthrene methyl trithiocarbonate and anthracene-9-methyhltrithiocarbonate.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said specialized coupling agent is comprised of compounds represented by Formula II comprised of 1-pyrenemethyl methacrylate having a carbon-to-carbon double bond available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature as: SVG 13941583.05-26-2015.IA₅KRPBNPXXIFW3.CLM.3.svg 1.63 2.06 Black and white

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[10]] 16 wherein said -5- specialized coupling agent is comprised of at least one of 1,3-di-(2-pyrenyl) propyl polysulphide and thiolpropyl pyrene with the polysulphide or thiol groups available to co-cure with diene-based elastomer(s) in the rubber composition to form a carbon-sulfur bond with the elastomer(s) during the curing of the rubber composition at an elevated temperature.