The pneumatic tire or air-filled tire is composed of a core filled with airtight sealed pressurized air. Usually, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact part with the road.
The tire would remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, as the air pressure inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure within 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 how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Of course, there are several disadvantages to pneumatic tires. Like for example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires can suffer a puncture and this would result in a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could lead to a dangerous car crash. 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 evidently don't suffer from these kind of issues and thus, may be more suitable in some applications.
The pneumatic tire might have problems as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure inside a tire may increase the traction and the comfort level. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly 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. 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. With regards to to maintaining correct air pressure, customers are notoriously unreliable. Improper air pressure within tires could lead to really dangerous situations. It is very important to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes also, that could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is vital to take into account the type of settings you would be needing your equipment to function in so that you can check the tires on a regular basis and keep the machinery as safe as possible.