An air-filled or pneumatic tire is composed on an inner core that is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Normally, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other type of materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact part with the road.
The tire would remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, as the air pressure in the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure within the tire provides resistance against forces that attempt 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 ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you know how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Surely, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. Like for instance in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires could suffer a puncture and this would result in a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can lead to a serious car crash. Military planners should 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 because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these kind of problems and hence, could be more suitable in certain applications.
Pneumatic tires have another problem 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 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, less air pressure enables 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 undependable. Improper air pressure inside tires could lead to very unsafe situations. It is vital to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes too, which could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is vital to take into consideration the type of environments you would be needing your equipment to operate in so that you could regularly inspect the tires and keep the machinery as safe as possible.