An air-filled or pneumatic tire consists of an inner core that is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Usually, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, provides the contact part with the road and seals this inner core.
As the pressure of the air within the tire is more 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. This gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect as the tire hits bumps in the road. If you have ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you understand how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Surely, there are some drawbacks to pneumatic tires. Like for example in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a serious car crash. Military planners must take into account 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 issues and therefore, in certain applications, can be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire might have issues as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure in a tire may increase the comfort level and the traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is touching 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. Hence, reduced air pressure allows the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other problems too. When it comes to maintaining correct air pressure, customers are notoriously undependable. Improper air pressure inside tires can lead to really unsafe situations. It is really essential to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, which can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is vital to consider the kind of settings you would be requiring your equipment to operate in so that you can frequently inspect the tires and keep the machine as safe as possible.