Originally Posted by FBinNY

Take another look at the photo without tire in the OP. You'll see same split on both sides in the exact same place with respect to the spoke.

Note. It's from the opposite, so mirrored.

It would stretch credulity beyond yield for a near identical, perfectly straight to form in the same relative position.

Besides, if you look close enough, you can see the gap close halfway down, with the closed seam still visible.