A method for preparing a tire tread, the method comprising vulcanizing a vulcanizable composition comprising a rubber component including a functionalized polymer and a cure system, where the cure system includes sulfur and a disulfide compound represented by the formula I R1—S—S—R3—S—S—R2 where R3 represents a divalent organic group and R1 and R2 each independently include a monovalent organic group including a nitrogen atom.