A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core which is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Typically, a reinforced steel belted tread or other materials, provides the contact area with the road and seals this inner core.
The tire will remain inflated with all the vehicle's weight resting on it, as the pressure of the air in the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure in the tire gives resistance against forces that try to deform the tire. This gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect when the tire hits bumps in the road. If you have experienced taking a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you understand precisely how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Of course, there are several drawbacks to pneumatic tires. For instance 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 can result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners have to consider tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or gunfire. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these kind of issues and thus, may be more suitable in certain applications.
Pneumatic tires have another issue involving variations in air pressure and tire performance. Lower tire pressure can create increased comfort and improved traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is touching the road. The air pressure in the tire works to maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Hence, less air pressure allows the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
There are other problems with air pressure. Consumers are notoriously unreliable when it comes to maintaining proper air pressure. Tires that have incorrect air pressure can result in unsafe situations. It is important to bear in mind that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, that could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is vital to take into account the kind of settings you will be needing your equipment to operate in so that you can frequently inspect the tires and keep the machinery as safe as possible.