Commuting - new tire's sidewall cut: recommend? repair? recycle?

Of course, the 30-day flat protection that my LBS offers with a new bike purchase ran out just a couple of days ago, so I was due to get my first flat with this ride.

The bike came with Vittoria Randonneurs (700x28c), which I've heard are decent tires for commuting but hadn't used before. Yesterday though, I hit something (it sounded like maybe one of those metal straps that would hold together a pallet of patio stones, or a bundle of lumber) and my rear tire went flat. At first I thought I had something thrown at me by a passing car (the driver already looked annoyed at me that he actually had to stop at the sign before turning in the direction I was already headed with right-of-way). I hadn't seen anything in the road (and I didn't stop to look) but a few seconds later I registered that the rear wheel wasn't quite right.

I walked the remaining few blocks home (this happened about .25 mi. away, fortunately) and found that the sidewall has a slice in it about 1/4-3/8 inch long. perpendicular to the rim, with a corresponding slit in the tube.

The guy a the LBS thought chances of a blowout occurring with that cut were high enough that I should get a new tire. I ended up having to go with a Continental Contact, which I have on another bike, but haven't put too many miles on.

My questions three are these:

1. Continental Contacts vs Vittoria Randonneurs? Anybody have experience with those? My month-old bike now has one of each, so I suppose I'll be able to develop opinions about them myself, but would like to know if there are reasons to get rid of either tire in favor of something else.

2. Is a sidewall split like this repairable? I've heard about booting it with a dollar bill or Clif bar wrapper, but that sounds like it is emergency-repair only. I want to know if my month-old tire is worth trying to use again on a regular basis for commuting.

3. If reusing the tire is not recommendable, is my only other option to trash it? I hate to create more waste, so if anyone can tell me how to go about recycling it or even have any creative ideas on how to use it for something, I'm all ears... er, eyes.

The dollar-bill repair works to get you home only.

I'd recommend you get rid of the tire and use a brand different than Vittoria. I've had the same problem as you - the sidewall bursting from what should be a simple pinchflat. Continentals are good. Also good are Michelins, which are what I ride on my commuter.

You are right, the dollar bill trick only gets you home, especially if the tear is more than a couple of millimeters in length. As for recycling, perhaps ask the bike shop? I don't know. I have to admit that I just throw it away or tuck it back into the corner of the garage if there is life still left in it for use as a spare - not an option for you with a sidewall split.

With slash cuts, you have to use your judgement, but generally speaking, if the cut goes all the way, the tire is toast. This can happen even with good tires.

Although it is painful to pitch practically new tires, it must be done. They are far too important for safety to screw around with. A blowout in traffic or when you are riding at high speed is extremely dangerous. Also, damaged tires will tend to eat tubes so you'll wind up losing money no matter what.

The dollar-bill repair works to get you home only.

Not true. I rode quite a while (months?) with a dollar-booted tire. Of course I was a "starving student" at the time. :D Anyhow, back on topic... sounds like a big gash. Suck it up and get a new tire, I say, but only you can be the judge.