A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core that is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Normally, a reinforced steel belted tread or other type of materials, provides the contact part with the road and seals this inner core.
The tire would remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, because the air pressure inside the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure. The pressure of the air inside the tire provides resistance against forces which attempt 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 experienced taking a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you know exactly how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Pneumatic tires also come with disadvantages. 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 can lead to a dangerous car crash. Military planners need to 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 obviously don't suffer from these kind of problems and thus, might be more suitable in some applications.
The pneumatic tire may have issues as well with the variation in tire performance and air pressure. The lower pressure in a tire can increase the traction and the comfort level. This is because of 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 "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Thus, less air pressure allows the sidewalls of the tires 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 also. With regards to to maintaining correct air pressure, consumers are notoriously unreliable. Incorrect air pressure within tires could lead to really dangerous situations. It is really vital to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes also, that can be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is really vital to consider the kind of settings you would be requiring your equipment to function in so that you could check the tires on a regular basis and keep the machinery as safe as possible.