A pneumatic or air-filled tire is composed on an inner core which 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 will remain inflated with all the vehicle's weight resting on it, as the air pressure in the tire is more 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 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 how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Of course, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For instance in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will result in a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could lead to a serious car crash. Military planners must take into account tires getting blown out by shooting of guns or explosion shrapnel. 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 problems and hence, in certain applications, may be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have another problem involving variations in tire performance and air pressure. 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 pressure of the air inside of the tire works to maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Therefore, less air pressure enables the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this leads to poor handling. In an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
There are other issues with air pressure. Customers are notoriously undependable when it comes to maintaining proper air pressure. Tires that have incorrect air pressure can result in dangerous situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are also prone to temperature changes, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is really important to consider the type of environments you would be needing your equipment to function in so that you can check the tires on a regular basis and keep the equipment as safe as possible.