A pneumatic or air-filled tire is composed on an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Usually, a reinforced steel belted tread or other 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, since the pressure of the air inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure within the tire gives resistance against forces which try 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 that had wooden wheels, you understand how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires could make.
Surely, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. Like for example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, 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 have to take into account tires getting blown out by firing of guns 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 obviously don't suffer from these issues and hence, in some applications, may be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have one more problem involving variations in air pressure and tire performance. 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 in the tire works to maintain the "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Therefore, reduced air pressure enables the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
There are other issues with air pressure. Customers are notoriously unreliable when it comes to maintaining proper air pressure. Tires that have improper air pressure could result in dangerous situations. It is very vital to bear in mind that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes also, which can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is really vital to consider the type of settings you would be requiring your equipment to function in so that you could inspect the tires on a regular basis and keep the equipment as safe as possible.