A pneumatic or air-filled tire is composed on an inner core that is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Normally, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, provides the contact area with the road and seals this inner core.
The tire would remain inflated with all the vehicle's weight resting on it, since the air pressure within the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure in the tire gives resistance against forces which attempt to deform the tire. This gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect as the tire hits bumps in the road. If you have ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you know how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Surely, there are several disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For example in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires can suffer a puncture and this would lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could lead to a serious car crash. Military planners have to consider tires getting blown out by firing of guns or explosion shrapnel. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped within a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these problems and therefore, may be more suitable in some applications.
Pneumatic tires have one more problem involving variations in air pressure and tire performance. Lower tire pressure can create improved traction and increased comfort. This is due to the fact that tires flatten a little and more tread is touching the road. The air pressure in the tire works to maintain the "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Hence, reduced air pressure enables the tires' sidewalls to flex. This results in poor handling unfortunately. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues also. With regards to to maintaining proper air pressure, consumers are notoriously unreliable. Wrong air pressure within tires can lead to really dangerous situations. It is vital to note that pneumatic tires are also prone to temperature changes, that can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is very essential to consider the type of settings you will be needing your machine to function in so that you could inspect the tires on a regular basis and keep the machine as safe as possible.