An air-filled or pneumatic tire consists of an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Normally, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, provides the contact area 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 air pressure inside the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The pressure of the air inside 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 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 can make.
Surely, there are several disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires could suffer a puncture and this would lead to a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can lead to a serious car crash. Military planners must take into account tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or firing of guns. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped in a fire zone because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these type of issues and hence, in certain applications, could be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have one more issue involving variations in air pressure and tire performance. Lower tire pressure can 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 lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Therefore, less 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. Consumers are notoriously undependable when it comes to maintaining proper air pressure. Tires which have improper air pressure could result in dangerous situations. It is very vital to bear in mind that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, that could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is really important 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 machinery as safe as possible.