Interrelations between flaw tolerance and reliability in Y-TZP, Ce-TZP and Mg-PSZ ceramics are investigated. Indentation-strength tests indicate an enhanced flaw tolerance with increasing R-curve behaviour from tetragonal --> martensite transformation. The Weibull modulus of unindented specimens increases with the enhanced tolerance. However, even the most tolerant zirconias show persistent scatter in strength, implying that variability in material microstructure may be as important a factor in reliability evaluation in these materials as variability in flaw size.