Safety depends on other circumstances as well as the vehicle. I put my whole family, and some extended family in my 80 with no worries. If we go on the interstate, we stay in the slow lane and take it easy since it is lifted and overweight. I was clipped driving our Infiniti on the interstate and we spun out of control and ended up in the ditch. We all walked away but if it was the 80, we would have rolled and who knows how bad it could have been but it would have been the same as any other similar sized SUV.
As far brakes, they aren't bad when you have good pads, fluid and components. Adding big tires and other weight will hurt braking so naturally people will look for improvements. If you add weight and unmaintained parts then your brakes will suck. If you look on any car forum people are always looking for ways to go faster and stop better, that is not an indication of poor performance, just that people always want more!
As far brakes, they aren't bad when you have good pads, fluid and components. Adding big tires and other weight will hurt braking so naturally people will look for improvements. If you add weight and unmaintained parts then your brakes will suck. If you look on any car forum people are always looking for ways to go faster and stop better, that is not an indication of poor performance, just that people always want more!
...safety is tough since there are so many factors. Every vehicle is safe in some sense of the word. For our purposes a 200 is "safer" than a 100, 100 "safer" than an 80 and so on. Honestly you're fine with whatever, my biggest concern is everyone else on the road, that factor beyond your control. Drive safe, pay attention, more important than the vehicle you're in.
