The air-filled or pneumatic tire consists 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.
Because the air pressure inside the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with the weight of the vehicle resting on it. The pressure of the air within the tire gives 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 ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you know how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires could make.
Pneumatic tires also come with drawbacks. High-performance situations or highly dangerous applications for instance, 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 serious car crash. Military planners need to consider tires getting blown out by gunfire or explosion shrapnel. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these kind of problems and thus, could be more suitable in certain 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 comfort level and the traction. This is because of the fact that tires flatten a little 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. Therefore, less air pressure allows the tires' sidewalls to flex. This leads to poor handling unfortunately. Within 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 unreliable. Incorrect air pressure in tires could result in really dangerous situations. It is really vital to note that pneumatic tires are also prone to temperature changes, which can be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is essential to consider the type of settings you would be requiring your equipment to function in so that you can check the tires regularly and keep the machinery as safe as possible.