(Cu rr ently amended) A rubber composition which comprises, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (B) about to about 120 phr of at least one reinforcing filler, comprised of (1) precipitated silica or a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica (synthetic amorphous silica containing hydroxyl groups), together with a silica coupler for said precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on said precipitated silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), and (2) about 0.5 to about 30 phr of exfoliated graphene platelets having an average thickness in a range of from about 1 nm to about 5 nm and an average lateral dimension in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein the graphene platelets are coupled to said diene-based elastomers(s) with a graphene coupling ag ent comprised of a moiety containing pi electrons and another different moiety com prised of a polysulfide containing an average of 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent contains a polymeric backbone comprised of a low molecular weight polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons and having an end group which contains at least one polysulfide wherein said polysulfide contains an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (1): (1) SVG 13690143.05-12-2015.I₉LGJMI₄PXXIFW3.CLM₁6400992.12.309.1573.998.2107.svg 1.78 2.297 Graph Black and white where A is a polymeric backbone comprised of a polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons, B represents optional side chains attached to the coupling agent polymeric backbone A comprised of at least one alkane hydrocarbon group containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and C represents at least one polysulfidic moiety attached to the coupler backbone A wherein said polysulfide moiety(ies) is(are) [[are]] represented by S x, where x is an average value in a range of from about 2 to about 4.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said -3- graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (2): (2) D-E wherein D represents a pyrene structure containing a pi electron configuration and E represents at least one polysulfidic moiety, said polysulfide moiety(ies) containing an average of from 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) A tire having at least one component comprised of the rubber composition of claim [[4]] 5.

(Cu rr ently amended) A rubber composition which comprises, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (B) about to about 120 phr of at least one reinforcing filler, comprised of (1) precipitated silica or a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica (synthetic amorphous silica containing hydroxyl groups), together with a silica coupler for said precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on said precipitated silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), and (2) about 0.5 to about 30 phr of exfoliated graphene platelets having an average thickness in a range of from about 1 nm to about 5 nm and an average lateral dimension in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein the graphene platelets are coupled to said diene-based elastomers(s) with a graphene coupling ag ent comprised of a moiety containing pi electrons and another different moiety com prised of a polysulfide containing an average of 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent contains a polymeric backbone comprised of a low molecular weight polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons and having an end group which contains at least one polysulfide wherein said polysulfide contains an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (1): (1) SVG 13690143.05-12-2015.I₉LGJMI₄PXXIFW3.CLM₁6400992.12.309.1573.998.2107.svg 1.78 2.297 Graph Black and white where A is a polymeric backbone comprised of a polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons, B represents optional side chains attached to the coupling agent polymeric backbone A comprised of at least one alkane hydrocarbon group containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and C represents at least one polysulfidic moiety attached to the coupler backbone A wherein said polysulfide moiety(ies) is(are) [[are]] represented by S x, where x is an average value in a range of from about 2 to about 4.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said -3- graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (2): (2) D-E wherein D represents a pyrene structure containing a pi electron configuration and E represents at least one polysulfidic moiety, said polysulfide moiety(ies) containing an average of from 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) A tire having at least one component comprised of the rubber composition of claim [[4]] 5.

(Cu rr ently amended) A rubber composition which comprises, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (B) about to about 120 phr of at least one reinforcing filler, comprised of (1) precipitated silica or a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica (synthetic amorphous silica containing hydroxyl groups), together with a silica coupler for said precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on said precipitated silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), and (2) about 0.5 to about 30 phr of exfoliated graphene platelets having an average thickness in a range of from about 1 nm to about 5 nm and an average lateral dimension in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein the graphene platelets are coupled to said diene-based elastomers(s) with a graphene coupling ag ent comprised of a moiety containing pi electrons and another different moiety com prised of a polysulfide containing an average of 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent contains a polymeric backbone comprised of a low molecular weight polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons and having an end group which contains at least one polysulfide wherein said polysulfide contains an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (1): (1) SVG 13690143.05-12-2015.I₉LGJMI₄PXXIFW3.CLM₁6400992.12.309.1573.998.2107.svg 1.78 2.297 Graph Black and white where A is a polymeric backbone comprised of a polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons, B represents optional side chains attached to the coupling agent polymeric backbone A comprised of at least one alkane hydrocarbon group containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and C represents at least one polysulfidic moiety attached to the coupler backbone A wherein said polysulfide moiety(ies) is(are) [[are]] represented by S x, where x is an average value in a range of from about 2 to about 4.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said -3- graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (2): (2) D-E wherein D represents a pyrene structure containing a pi electron configuration and E represents at least one polysulfidic moiety, said polysulfide moiety(ies) containing an average of from 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) A tire having at least one component comprised of the rubber composition of claim [[4]] 5.

(Cu rr ently amended) A rubber composition which comprises, based upon parts by weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): (A) 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer, (B) about to about 120 phr of at least one reinforcing filler, comprised of (1) precipitated silica or a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica (synthetic amorphous silica containing hydroxyl groups), together with a silica coupler for said precipitated silica having a moiety reactive with hydroxyl groups on said precipitated silica and another different moiety interactive with said diene-based elastomer(s), and (2) about 0.5 to about 30 phr of exfoliated graphene platelets having an average thickness in a range of from about 1 nm to about 5 nm and an average lateral dimension in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein the graphene platelets are coupled to said diene-based elastomers(s) with a graphene coupling ag ent comprised of a moiety containing pi electrons and another different moiety com prised of a polysulfide containing an average of 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

canceled

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent contains a polymeric backbone comprised of a low molecular weight polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons and having an end group which contains at least one polysulfide wherein said polysulfide contains an average of from about 2 to about 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (1): (1) SVG 13690143.05-12-2015.I₉LGJMI₄PXXIFW3.CLM₁6400992.12.309.1573.998.2107.svg 1.78 2.297 Graph Black and white where A is a polymeric backbone comprised of a polyaryleneethynylene containing pi electrons, B represents optional side chains attached to the coupling agent polymeric backbone A comprised of at least one alkane hydrocarbon group containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and C represents at least one polysulfidic moiety attached to the coupler backbone A wherein said polysulfide moiety(ies) is(are) [[are]] represented by S x, where x is an average value in a range of from about 2 to about 4.

(Cu rr ently amended) The rubber composition of claim [[4]] 1 wherein said -3- graphene coupling agent is of a general chemical structure (2): (2) D-E wherein D represents a pyrene structure containing a pi electron configuration and E represents at least one polysulfidic moiety, said polysulfide moiety(ies) containing an average of from 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms.

(Cu rr ently amended) A tire having at least one component comprised of the rubber composition of claim [[4]] 5.