The air-filled or pneumatic tire consists of a core filled with airtight sealed pressurized air. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, provides the contact part with the road and seals this inner core.
The tire will remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, since the pressure of the air in the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure inside the tire gives resistance against forces that attempt to deform the tire. This gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect when the tire hits bumps in the road. If you have ever taken 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 some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For example in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires could suffer a puncture and this would lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a serious car crash. Military planners have to consider tires getting blown out by gunfire or explosion shrapnel. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped within 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, might be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire might have issues as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure inside a tire can increase the comfort level and the traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is placed in contact with the road. The air pressure in the tire works to maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire as well as maintain the "up and down" stiffness. Hence, less air pressure allows the sidewalls of the tires to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. In 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 correct air pressure. Tires which have incorrect air pressure can lead to dangerous situations. It is very vital to keep in mind that pneumatic tires are susceptible to temperature changes also, that could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is really vital to consider the kind of settings you will be requiring your equipment to operate in so that you can inspect the tires regularly and keep the equipment as safe as possible.