Buying tires thru Performance?
 

Buying tires thru Performance Bike?
Check em throughly before you set off on a ride.
Out of 6 tires (two sets of vredestein fortezza pros and one set of vittoria rubino pros-intrepid style)
I've had 3 with identical 1" slits diagonally across the crown of the tire.
Apparently, Performance has a disgruntled employee.
A slash that wide -if and when it lets go-is gonna result in you and the bike going down.
(fwiw.I purchased all 3 sets early 2008)

did you open the box with a razor blade?

Sounds like someone at some point opened a box with a razor blade and probably hit the tops of the tires. I seriously doubt there is some disgruntled employee at Performance intentionally slashing tires.

Performance has a great return policy. I'd say they would be as concerned about your problem as you are. They'd want to know about it.