If you’re from New England, you probably are well versed in the laws of physics in regards to PSI. As the seasons change, so do the tires on your vehicle. And the ever cumbersome task of monitoring your tire pressure (how many times have you seen blown tires on I91, I89 or I93?)

With each 10° F change in temperature, your tire pressure will change about 1-2%. This isn’t an opinion, this is basic physics. This is why when any auto technician with some good ‘ole North Country sense will over inflate your tires when working in a heated garage in the winter. They know once you drove off the lot from their 72° F garage to the 20° F weather outside that you’re tire pressure is going to dip down. Otherwise, the sensors (if you have a newer model) in your vehicle will alert you that your tires aren’t inflated correctly. Or, rather, under-inflated. (These sensors are hyper-sensitive I swear, often getting triggered with only a few PSI change.)

Now imagine doing the same with a football.

If you inflate indoors, and it sits, it’s going to retain the proper pressure. But, introduce it to the elements in a much colder (i.e. -50° F change) environment and it’s going to change. Period. No one needs to do anything. Even the only thing the makers of the football say will deflate it, intentionally. It will just happen naturally. And it’s not a deflation, it’s a pressure change.

Photo: RedChurch
Source: Tire Rack
Related: Deflate-Gate