Eli5 Why do tires use air instead of solid rubber all the wsy?

Question

Wouldnt a solid rubber tire do the same job with no risk of punctures?

In: 296

Answer 1

Air is compressible and acts as a spring. Crucially, *all* of the air in a tire can compress to absorb a bump, versus a tire with springs or compressible material where only the material directly between the ground and the rim can compress (like Tannus tires or moon buggy tires)