A pneumatic or air-filled tire consists of an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Usually, a reinforced steel belted tread or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact part with the road.
The tire would remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, as the air pressure inside the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure 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 know how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to pneumatic tires. Like for instance in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires could suffer a puncture and this will result in a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a dangerous car accident. Military planners must take into account tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or shooting of guns. A vehicle crew's worst nightmare is becoming trapped within a fire zone because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these type of problems and hence, in certain applications, can be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire may have issues as well with the variation in tire performance and air pressure. The lower pressure inside a tire can increase the comfort level and the traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten a little and more tread is touching 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. Hence, less air pressure allows the sidewalls of the tires to flex. Unfortunately, this leads to poor handling. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
Air pressure factors into other issues too. With regards to to maintaining proper air pressure, customers are notoriously undependable. Incorrect air pressure inside tires can result in very dangerous situations. It is really important to bear in mind that pneumatic tires are susceptible to temperature changes too, which can be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is important to take into consideration the kind of environments you would be needing your machinery to function in so that you can check the tires regularly and keep the machine as safe as possible.