A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core that is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Usually, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other kind of materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
The tire will remain inflated with all the vehicle's weight resting on it, as the pressure of the air inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure within the tire provides resistance against forces which attempt to deform the tire. When the tire hits bumps in the road, this gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect. If you have experienced taking a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you know precisely how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Pneumatic tires also come with drawbacks. Highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations for example, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will result in a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a dangerous car accident. Military planners must consider tires getting blown out by gunfire or explosion shrapnel. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these type of issues and thus, might be more suitable in certain applications.
The pneumatic tire may have issues as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure in a tire could increase the comfort level and the traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is touching the road. The air pressure inside of the tire works to maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Hence, reduced air pressure allows the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. In an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues too. When it comes to maintaining correct air pressure, consumers are notoriously unreliable. Improper air pressure inside tires can result in really unsafe situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes also, that can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is really important to take into account the kind of settings you will be requiring your equipment to function in so that you could inspect the tires regularly and keep the machine as safe as possible.