Defective tires can cause accidents, resulting in serious 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 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 sustains a blowout, often causing a loss of control leading to an accident or rollover, possibly even flipping over several times. As it does so, the roof structure will crush in, shattering the safety glass or perhaps popping open the doors. Even if the occupants are properly buckled in, they will be subject to violent motions. Their limbs may protrude from the exterior of the vehicle, or the dynamic forces may cause their belts to fail entirely, throwing them from the tumbling vehicle.

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