exploding tire

[DebW]

Badger, a blown tire like that is caused by the tire not being seated properly on the rim. Your tube issues sound like a sticky valve, which wouldn't cause the tire to blow off the rim. Overinflation of the tube could cause a blowout, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. If your tube has gone flat recently and been re-inflated, possible the tire bead didn't seat properly when you re-inflated. Maybe a bit of tube was caught between the tire bead and the rim. If the tube has remained fairly well-inflated for the last year, then the cause may forever remain a mystery, maybe a bad spot on the tire.

When you replace the tube, inspect the tire very well as you inflate it. It's possible that the tire bead was damage by the blowout and it may not hold properly on the rim again.

[badger]

well, the tire pressure has remained relatively the same, it's never gotten flat or under-inflated. I didn't install the tire, I let the bike store do it when I bought it as I didn't have the energy to do it at home. I hope the tire itself is okay, it wasn't cheap and I don't want to have to get another one in such a short period of time (I ride to work every day but beyond that I hardly ride it so not much mileage).

I'll have a better look tonight. I might take a picture and post it so you guys can have a better look; I'm not savvy in things like that, I just ride the thing