Hydrogenated styrene butadiene rubber (HSBR) produced by hydrogenating a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). Compared to conventional SBR, HSBR offers several advantages, such as increased strength, toughness, and resistance to heat, aging, and chemicals. In addition to these material properties, functionalized hydrogenated SSBR is promising for reducing the usage of the much-discussed 6PPD antioxidant. This study aims to reduce the usage of 6PPD through applying a selective HSBR technology. By selective hydrogenation, the hydrogenation ratio could be controlled to levels, where the unsaturation is minimized to levels essential for vulcanization. The basic qualities of a functionalized SBR are maintained. This approach would finally yield a high performance SBR which is less susceptible to oxidation and ozone.