A novel tin-coupled star-shaped block copolymer (SB-B)(4)Sn was synthesized by anionic polymeric techniques. This new copolymer exhibited two different types: One was star-shaped polybutadiene-b-poly (butadiene-ran-styrene) (S-PB-PSB), and the other was star-shaped polybutadiene-b-poly(butadiene-ran-styrene)-b-polystyrene (S-PB-PSB-PS). In this article, properties of (SB-B)(4)Sn were contrasted with that of tin-coupled star-shaped random styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) and S-SBR/cis-BR blend rubbers. Physical property testing results showed that (SB-B)(4)Sn possessed good mechanical properties like S-SBR. Rheological study indicated that these star-shaped block copolymers had good processing properties. Rubber processing analyzer (RPA) spectra showed that the dispersion of additives in (SB-B)(4)Sn and S-SBRI/cis-BR blend rubber was much better than that in S-SBR. Dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA) spectra showed that (SB-B)(4)Sn had a good combination of low rolling resistance and high wet skid resistance, which made it satisfactory materials to produce high performance tire tread. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 602-611, 2009