The pneumatic tire or air-filled tire consists of a core filled with airtight sealed pressurized air. Usually, 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, as the pressure of the air in the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The pressure of the air in the tire gives resistance against forces which attempt to deform the tire. This gives the tire a slight degree of a cushioning effect as the tire hits bumps in the road. If you have ever taken a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you understand how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Surely, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For instance in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires could suffer a puncture and this would lead to a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a serious car accident. Military planners should consider 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 evidently don't suffer from these type of issues and hence, can be more suitable in certain applications.
The pneumatic tire may have problems as well with the variation in tire performance and air pressure. The lower pressure in a tire can increase the traction and the comfort level. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is placed in contact with the road. The air pressure 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 enables the tires' sidewalls to flex. Unfortunately, this results in poor handling. In an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues also. With regards to to maintaining correct air pressure, consumers are notoriously unreliable. Improper air pressure within tires could lead to very dangerous situations. It is essential to bear in mind that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes also, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is really vital to take into account the type of settings you would be requiring your machinery to function in so that you could check the tires on a regular basis and keep the equipment as safe as possible.