A pneumatic or air-filled tire is composed on an inner core which is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Usually, a reinforced steel belted tread or other materials, provides the contact part with the road and seals this inner core.
Because the air pressure within the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with a vehicles' weight resting on it. The pressure of the air in the tire provides resistance against forces which try to deform the tire. When the tire hits bumps in the road, this gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect. If you have ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you know precisely how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Pneumatic tires also come with drawbacks. Highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations for instance, these tires can suffer a puncture and this would lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could lead to a dangerous car accident. Military planners must consider tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or firing of guns. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these kind of issues and thus, in certain applications, could be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have another issue involving variations in tire performance and air pressure. Lower tire pressure could create improved traction and increased comfort. This is due to the fact that tires flatten a little 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, less 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. With regards to to maintaining correct air pressure, consumers are notoriously undependable. Improper air pressure within tires can result in really unsafe situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, that can be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is really important to consider the type of settings you will be requiring your machinery to operate in so that you could inspect the tires regularly and keep the machine as safe as possible.