An air-filled or pneumatic tire consists of an inner core which is sealed airtight and filled with pressurized air. Typically, a reinforced steel belted tread or other kind of 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, because the air pressure in the tire is greater than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure in the tire provides resistance against forces that try 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 experienced taking a ride in an old-fashioned carriage which had wooden wheels, you know how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires makes.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to pneumatic tires. Like for instance in highly dangerous applications or high-performance situations, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will lead to a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds could result in a dangerous car crash. Military planners must take into consideration tires getting blown out by explosion shrapnel or firing of guns. 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 issues and therefore, may be more suitable in certain applications.
The pneumatic tire might have problems as well with the variation in air pressure and tire performance. The lower pressure inside a tire may increase the traction and the comfort level. This is due to the fact that tires flatten slightly and more tread is touching the road. The air pressure in 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. This leads to poor handling unfortunately. Within an airless tire, the stiffness in those two dimensions is independent.
There are other problems with air pressure. Consumers are notoriously unreliable when it comes to maintaining proper air pressure. Tires which have wrong air pressure could result in unsafe situations. It is essential to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, that could be responsible for changing the internal pressure of the tire. It is really vital to consider the kind of settings you would be needing your machinery to operate in so that you could inspect the tires on a regular basis and keep the machine as safe as possible.