High strength rubber formulations, and shear ply made from the same

Disclosed are a precursor composition, a rubber component and a shear ply prepared from the precursor composition, and methods for making and using the same. The precursor composition includes: (a) a first hydrogenated nitrile conjugated-diene copolymer modified by a metal salt unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, wherein the hydrogenated nitrile conjugated-diene copolymer is derived from a first ethylenically unsaturated nitrile and a first conjugated diene; (b) a second hydrogenated nitrile conjugated-diene copolymer derived from a second ethylenically unsaturated nitrile and a second conjugated diene; and (c) a curing agent.