A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core which is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
As the pressure of the air in the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with a vehicles' weight resting on it. The air pressure in the tire provides resistance against forces that 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 ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you understand how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to pneumatic tires. Like for example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires could suffer a puncture and this will lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners should consider tires getting blown out by gunfire or explosion shrapnel. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped within a fire zone because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these type of problems and thus, might be more suitable in certain applications.
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 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. Therefore, less air pressure enables the sidewalls of the tires to flex. This leads to poor handling unfortunately. In an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues too. When it comes to maintaining proper air pressure, consumers are notoriously undependable. Improper air pressure in tires can result in very unsafe situations. It is vital to keep in mind that pneumatic tires are susceptible to temperature changes too, which could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is important to consider the kind of settings you will be requiring your machine to function in so that you could regularly inspect the tires and keep the equipment as safe as possible.