The pneumatic tire or air-filled tire is composed of a core filled with airtight sealed pressurized air. Typically, a reinforced steel belted tread 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 vehicle's weight resting on it, since the pressure of the air within the tire is more than atmospheric air pressure. The air pressure in the tire provides resistance against forces that try 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 understand how big of a difference a set of pneumatic tires can make.
Surely, there are several disadvantages to pneumatic tires. Like for example in high-performance situations or highly dangerous applications, these tires can suffer a puncture and this will lead to a total failure. The consequence of a blowout at high speeds can result in a serious car crash. Military planners must consider 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 because of all of their tires becoming flat. Airless tires evidently don't suffer from these kind of issues and thus, in some applications, may be more suitable.
Pneumatic tires have one more issue involving variations in tire performance and air pressure. Lower tire pressure could create increased comfort and improved traction. This is due to the fact that tires flatten a little and more tread is placed in contact with the road. The pressure of the air inside of the tire works to maintain the "up and down" stiffness as well as maintain the lateral stiffness of the tire. Hence, less 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 correct air pressure. Tires that have incorrect air pressure could lead to unsafe situations. It is vital to note that pneumatic tires are also susceptible to temperature changes, which could be responsible for changing the internal tire pressure. It is vital to consider the type of environments you will be requiring your machinery to operate in so that you can regularly inspect the tires and keep the equipment as safe as possible.