A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core which is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Normally, a reinforced steel belted tread or other kind of materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
Since the pressure of the air inside 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 gives resistance against forces that 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 which had wooden wheels, you know precisely how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires could make.
Pneumatic tires also come with drawbacks. High-performance situations or highly dangerous applications for example, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a serious car crash. Military planners should take into consideration tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or firing of guns. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these issues and hence, in some applications, can be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have one more problem 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 placed in contact with the road. The pressure of the air inside of the tire works to maintain the "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Hence, 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 problems too. With regards to to maintaining proper air pressure, customers are notoriously unreliable. Improper air pressure within tires can lead to really dangerous situations. It is very essential to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is very important to take into account the type of settings you would be requiring your machinery to operate in so that you can regularly inspect the tires and keep the machinery as safe as possible.