A pneumatic or air-filled tire is composed on an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Typically, 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, since the air pressure inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure in the tire provides resistance against forces that 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 experienced taking a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you know precisely how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Pneumatic tires also come with drawbacks. High-performance situations or highly dangerous applications for example, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will result in a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a serious car accident. Military planners should consider tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or shooting of guns. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped within a fire zone because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these problems and hence, may be more suitable in some applications.
Pneumatic tires have another issue involving variations in tire performance and air pressure. Lower tire pressure could 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. Hence, reduced air pressure enables the sidewalls of the tires 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 problems also. When it comes to maintaining proper air pressure, consumers are notoriously undependable. Improper air pressure in tires could lead to very unsafe situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes too, that can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is very vital to consider the type of environments you would be requiring your machinery to operate in so that you could inspect the tires on a regular basis and keep the machinery as safe as possible.