must be a bad cut to require a new tyre! how hard did you hit the kerb!? My Missis kerbed a wheel on my old R quite badly, really scrubbed the rim and had a chunk of rubber, I never replaced the tyre and never had any issues with it...
regarding contis, I need two new fronts at the mo and best I've found fitted is £140 each. Kwik-fit are doing a special on Pirelli (P-somethings!?), £108 IIRC, online prices are much better but I can't fit 'em myself!