A facile approach for improving the dispersion of carbon black (CB) with few functional groups in a rubber matrix was developed by preparing a new solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene-p-(2,2’-diphenylethyl)styrene (DPES) rubber (SBDR). The SBDR was shown to graft onto the surface of the CB through trapping polymer radical formed by thermally dissociation of triphenylethane pendant. The dispersion of CB in the rubber matrix was markedly improved by increasing the DPES content in SBDR, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, and rubber process analysis. Furthermore, SBDR vulcanizates showed improved mechanical properties and good dynamic properties for tread rubber with increasing DPES content. This research provides a universal method for improving the dispersion of carbon materials containing few functional groups in polymer matrices.