other than weight, what are the benefits that inflatable tires have over a tire that would be made solid rubber?
Cost, and Tires are inflated with air, which provides a flexible cushion between the vehicle and the road that smooths out shock and provides for a comfortable ride quality. the pneumatic tire also has a more important effect of vastly reducing rolling resistance compared to a solid tire. Because the internal air pressure acts in all directions, a pneumatic tire is able to absorb lumps and bumps in the road as it rolls over them without experiencing a reaction force opposite to the direction of travel, as is the case with a solid (or foam-filled) tire. The difference between the rolling resistance of a pneumatic and solid tire is easily felt when propelling wheelchairs or baby buggies fitted with either type.
Well for one the ride would be much worse if you had solid rubber tires. Every bump would be felt. But more important than the ride is the fact that tires are very complicated parts of a car. The way they are made influences the turning ability of the car. The fact that the sidewall bend and flex enhances your ability to turn a corner more than you would every imagine. If you had a solid tire the ability to turn would be greatly reduced. Consider that even though go karts that are raced are raced on pretty much perfectly smooth tracks, the go karts use inflated tires. It isn't for weight its because of turning and the fact that solid tires would not allow the same turning.
