Abstract Investigations of the dynamic cut growth behavior of vulcanized rubbers indicate that there is a minimum tearing energy at which mechanical rupture of chains occurs. The limiting value is characteristic of each vulcanizate, but is in the region of 0.05 kg/cm. The mechanical fatigue limit, below which the number of cycles to failure increases rapidly, is accurately predicted from this critical tearing energy. Characteristics of cut growth at low tearing energies, and effects of polymer, vulcanizing system, oxygen, and fillers on the critical tearing energy and fatigue limit are discussed.