A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core that is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Normally, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact part with the road.
As the pressure of the air inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with the weight of the vehicle resting on it. The air pressure within the tire provides resistance against forces that try 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 which had wooden wheels, you understand how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Of course, there are some disadvantages 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 could result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners must consider tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or firing of guns. 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 problems and thus, can be more suitable in some applications.
Pneumatic tires have one more issue involving variations in air pressure and tire performance. Lower tire pressure could create improved traction and increased comfort. This is because of the fact that tires flatten a little and more tread is placed in contact with the road. The pressure of the air in the tire works to maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Thus, reduced air pressure enables the sidewalls of the tires to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. Within 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, customers are notoriously unreliable. Improper air pressure in tires can lead to really unsafe situations. It is very essential to note that pneumatic tires are also prone to temperature changes, that could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is important to consider the type of environments you will be requiring your machinery to function in so that you could inspect the tires on a regular basis and keep the equipment as safe as possible.