CV boot is not likely to tear down at the small end - not much flexing there. They usually go at the "valley" of the largest bellow section - where the most flex occurs.

Conditioning them may help but not likely. Quality of material is what matters here....

__________________
Wayne
2005 BMW X5 3.0d (b 02/05)
2001 BMW F650GS Dakar (b 06/01)