An air-filled or pneumatic tire is composed on an inner core that is filled with pressurized air and sealed airtight. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other type of materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
The tire would remain inflated with all the weight of the vehicle resting on it, because the pressure of the air in 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 precisely how huge of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Of course, there are some disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For instance in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires could suffer a puncture and this will lead to a complete failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a dangerous car accident. Military planners should take into consideration tires getting blown out by firing of guns or explosion shrapnel. The worst nightmare of a vehicle crew is becoming trapped in a fire zone due to all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires obviously don't suffer from these issues and thus, in certain applications, can be more suitable.
The pneumatic tire might have issues as well with the variation in tire performance and air pressure. The lower pressure inside a tire can increase the traction and the comfort level. This is because of the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is touching the road. The pressure of the air in 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 results in poor handling unfortunately. 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 that have incorrect air pressure could lead to dangerous situations. It is important to note that pneumatic tires are also prone to temperature changes, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is very important to consider the type of settings you will be needing your equipment to operate in so that you could frequently check the tires and keep the machine as safe as possible.