Defective tires can cause accidents, resulting in injuries to both drivers and passengers. Tire defects such as tread separations and tire blowouts have been responsible for many injuries and wrongful deaths. Statistics on tire defects show the rates of accidents due to defective tires are higher in SUV's and trucks. When a defective radial tire loses its tread, the tire causes a blowout, often causing a loss of control leading to an accident or rollover, and may even flip over several times. As it does so, the roof structure will crush in, shattering the safety glass or perhaps jolting open the doors. Even if the occupants are properly buckled in, they will be subject to violent motions withing the vehicle. Their limbs may protrude from the interior of the vehicle, or the dynamic forces may cause their belts to fail entirely, throwing them from the tumbling vehicle.

Tire makers have,  a responsibility to ensure that their products do not harm consumers. If they do, the manufacturer can be held liable under law.