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Not to everyone, but I find a noticeable difference between H and V rated tires -- although it isn't a matter of one being unsafe per se, because even the H is rated for higher highway speeds than you'll ever exceed in the U.S. So their maximum rated speed is not an issue. And about the only speed rating that could become an issue in the U.S. is the S- or T-rating of snow tires when put on super cars -- not an issue here, either.
But H tires are prioritized with a hard rubber, for covering lots of miles before they wear out, which is all that most U.S. consumers think about.
V-rated tires, on the other hand, generally will not last as long, but are designed with a stickier compound in keeping with their higher priority for more grip in stopping and cornering than for long-life. And I prefer to pay more for the softer, grippier compound as well as know that I'll have to buy my next set of tires sooner -- because to me, the safety in the better traction is most important. But that's strictly a personal preference, not something that I suggest to other people, no more than I line them up with blind dates, or give stock advice :-).
Actually, most V-rated tires nowadays aren't really V-rated anymore. The V is a "class" of tires, but you'll actually find that they are more specifically designated by other letters -- e.g., the "summer-only" Exalto PE2 that I like is actually a W-rated tire as specifically designated in the suffix to the load rating, as in (for example) 92W.
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