Last night after putting a new ( stored for 4 years ) tube in an old but good tire, as I usually do, I pumped it up to max tire psi of 115 before lowering it back to where I usually ride, 100 psi. Well, just as I reached 115 psi, the tire exploded. No problem, except my hearing in one ear 11 hours later is not particularly good. Sure hope it returns to normal. The only thing I can think of is that the tire was not seated properly on the rim, and let go for that reason...

When installing a tire/tube I pump the tire to about 50-60 psi and check the bead. If all seems ok then I continue to pump. If not I let out some air and reseat the bead, then pump to 50-60 and double check everything.

You pinched the tube between the tire bead and the rim.
I have done that three times.

Possibly, I was able to remount the tire without a tire iron, so i felt all was ok. I usually do as RonH suggested, but last night I didn't and have possibly paid the price of hearing in one ear.
10Wheels: was your hearing impacted? If so did it return to something approaching normal?

Get yourself to a doctor as soon as possible. As someone with a long term hearing problem you dont want to take any chances at all with that aspect of your health.

I dont want to panic you, as i'm sure you will be ok but when it comes to your senses it's better to act quickly and be sure. You will want to rule out things like perforated eardrums etc.

Good luck and get well soon.

One loud bang should not have hurt your hearing, unless there was some unseen damage. If your hearing doesn't return quickly, see a doc.

Yes, I'll be seeing a Doc for a referral in about two hours. In the future, I think when in my garage, when pumping up a newly set tire, I'll wear some ear protection, it may be overkill, but I'm not 100% sure why it blew. If it were outdoors, I'm sure there would have been no lasting problem.

Just an update. A week later and the Doc says the 50 db loss is permanent ( nerve damage ). Be careful out there.

What kind of doctor. If it was a gp, you might want to check with an ent guy, or even just an audiologist.

The section around the stem is usually the most stubborn and deceiving. I always give the tube stem a push up into the tire to verify it isn't caught on the rim. It should push in easily before fully inflated. If not, something is pinched.

I also inflate to 40 psi, pinch the tire saidewalls together with my index finger and thumb around the circumference of the wheel to verify the tube is seated properly in the tire. If I can't clearly see the rimstrip, something's wrong.

I never go past 90psi - never even thought of a tire exploding. Sorry about your hearing.. that really sucks.

How close to the tire was your ear when it burst?

Likely about 2 to 2 1/2 feet, the thing that made the situation worse is that I was in an enclosed garage.

I had visited both an audiologist , and an ENT the next day, the audiologist said flat out it was permanent nerve damage, the ENT said that while the nerve damage was correct, that it is still possible, though unlikely it could improve. Its been a week already, I go back after another 3 weeks for a retest.

Sadness. I've had hearing problems for decades. The big assumptions from friends will be that you are either not listening, or have something called selective hearing.

My wife's family thinks my father-in-law is faking it.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

I have slightly impaired hearing as I said before and it can be a little testing at times but you will be able to live a normal life trust me.

You do need to start really looking after your hearing though, keep ipod's etc on a very low setting and if you are going to gigs etc make sure you have good earplugs in, the kind that fliter out the bad stuff and allow you to enjoy the music.

I also have to wear plugs and pump up outside, as a precaution myself as any further hearing loss for me could become problematic.

Take care of yourself .

rpf: Thanks, and I have noticed the damaged ear is quite sensitive to loud noise ( strange ) so even if I used something like an ipod ( and I don't ) it would be uncomfortable to due so now. Yes, this problem is at the moment not huge for me. I still ride, with a bandanna covering the damaged ear, to reduce wind noise. That seems to work very well btw. + 1 on pumping outside, or with ear muffs when in the garage from now on.

At the place I volunteer they blow off 2-4 tires every night.

No stranger than a fresh bruise being more sensitive when you poke it -- the injury is still healing.

Good luck on at least a partial recovery -- 50db is a lot to lose.

Absolutley.

Had to same thing happen to me. Had a flat, found the hole, and went to Walmart (big mistake) and bought a new tube. When I got to 60 psi the tube blew. I don't think I pinched the tube, but that is a possibility. It didn't seem to hurt the tire or my hearing. I ended up patching the old tube and using it. Haven't had any problems since.

Perhaps an ear plug in the affected ear when riding or being around noise - for the time being. I understand there are some plugs available that attenuate but don't entirely block sound.

JanMM: Thats pretty much what I do. I wear a foam plug in the affected ear, with a head scarf/bandanna. It makes for a ride that feels quite normal.