A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core that is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, provides the contact part with the road and seals this inner core.
Because the pressure of the air within the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with a vehicles' weight resting on it. The pressure of the air within the tire provides resistance against forces that try 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 experienced taking 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 drawbacks to pneumatic tires. For example in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires could suffer a puncture and this would result in a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners should consider tires getting blown out by gunfire or explosion shrapnel. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped within a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these issues and hence, in certain applications, can be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire may have problems as well with the variation in tire performance and air pressure. The lower pressure in a tire may 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 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, reduced air pressure allows 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 that have improper air pressure can lead to dangerous situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are prone to temperature changes too, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is really vital to consider the type of environments you would be needing your machinery to function in so that you can check the tires regularly and keep the equipment as safe as possible.