An air-filled or pneumatic tire is composed on an inner core which is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
The tire will remain inflated with all the vehicle's weight resting on it, as the pressure of the air within the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure. The pressure of the air within 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 ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage that had wooden wheels, you know how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Surely, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. Like for example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires could suffer a puncture and this will result in a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners need to 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 issues and therefore, in some applications, could be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire may have issues as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure inside a tire could increase the comfort level and the traction. This is because of 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 lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Thus, reduced air pressure allows the sidewalls of the tires to flex. This leads to poor handling unfortunately. In an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues also. With regards to to maintaining proper air pressure, consumers are notoriously unreliable. Incorrect air pressure in tires could lead to really dangerous situations. It is really vital to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is very essential to take into account the type of environments you would be needing your equipment to function in so that you could regularly check the tires and keep the machinery as safe as possible.