Bringing back this thread; need some advice.

I bought a pair of Vittoria Randonneur 700 x 28 (black, no reflective sidewall) about 2 months ago. I just cleaned off all the mud and noticed tiny cracks, about 1/2 the size of a rice grain or smaller, scattered all around the wheel on both sides that go parallel with the tire (i.e. it is not cracking perpendicularly). There are some longer cracks, but it's not very wide, if that makes any sense. I have been inflating my tires only to the max PSI, which I believe is 85.

On the other hand, my rear tire perfect and has no cracks. I have also inflated this tire to 85 PSI. I rarely skid and the back tire is in pretty mcuh perfect condition.

So, is my front tire defective? Anyone else experience this?