Elastomer composition containing mercaptofunctional silane and process for making same

A filled elastomer composition comprises: (a) at least one rubber component; (b) at least one particulate filler; and, (c) at least one mercaptofunctional silane general Formula (1): [HSG1Siz Z ]m[HSG2SiZ 3]n[HSG3SiZ 2X]o[[HSG4SiZ X2]p (1) wherein: each occurrence of G1, G2, G3, and G4 is independently a hydrocarbylene group containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of divalent groups derived by substitution of a hydrogen on alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or aralkyl or a substituted divalent heterocarbon containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms and one or more etheric oxygen (-O-) and/or sulfur (-S-) atoms; each occurrence of X is independently selected from the group consisting of -C1, -Br, RO-, RC(=O)O-, R2C=NO-, R2NO-, -R, (HO)d-1G5O-, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight, cyclic or branched alkyl that can or can not contain unsaturation, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, and aralkyl groups, wherein each R, other than hydrogen, contains from 1 to 1