An air-filled or pneumatic tire consists of an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Typically, a tread made with reinforced steel belting or other materials, seals this inner core and provides the contact area with the road.
As the pressure of the air within the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure, the tire remains inflated even with a vehicles' weight resting on it. The air pressure within the tire provides resistance against forces which 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 which had wooden wheels, you understand exactly how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Surely, there are several disadvantages to pneumatic tires. For example in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires can suffer a puncture and this would result in a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can lead to a serious car crash. Military planners need to take into account tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or gunfire. 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 type of issues and hence, might be more suitable in certain applications.
The pneumatic tire might have issues as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure inside a tire could increase the comfort level and the traction. This is because of the fact that tires flatten a little and more tread is placed in contact with the road. The pressure of the air in the tire works to maintain the "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Thus, less air pressure enables 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.
Air pressure factors into other problems too. When it comes to maintaining proper air pressure, consumers are notoriously undependable. Incorrect air pressure in tires can lead to really dangerous situations. It is very important to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, that can be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is very essential to take into consideration the type of settings you would be requiring your equipment to function in so that you can regularly check the tires and keep the machine as safe as possible.