A medical balloon having a resistance to circumferential tearing comprises a substantially cylindrical portion disposed between first and second tapered portions that have a decreasing cross-sectional area along a length thereof away from the cylindrical portion. The substantially cylindrical portion includes first and second end portions and a midsection disposed therebetween. The midsection includes a first region having a first resistance to tearing and a second region having a second lower resistance to tearing, where the second region extends about only a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical portion and does not extend beyond the midsection.
