HD Ricketts Cuts Tyre Risk with Michelin X Works Guarantee

West Midlands haulier HD Ricketts says Michelin X Works tyres are helping improve uptime and control damage-related costs across its mixed commercial vehicle fleet. The Sutton Coldfield-based sand, gravel and muck-away operator runs more than 100 tippers, tractors and curtainside trailers in demanding on- and off-road conditions.

A fleet policy built around uptime

HD Ricketts adopted a Michelin tyre policy towards the end of 2022. Around 70% of its commercial vehicle fleet now runs on Michelin tyres, with X Works products fitted across all axle positions on its tippers and on the steering axles of its articulated trucks.

The company uses 295/80 R22.5 X Works tyres on its tippers and 315/80 R22.5 fitments on tractor unit steer axles. Support is provided by Kelly Aitcheson, Territory Business Manager for the West Midlands at Michelin.

For construction and quarry-linked fleets, tyre damage remains a direct operational risk. Tippers and bulk haulage vehicles often face sharp debris, uneven surfaces and repeated transitions between road and site conditions. That makes tyre durability, casing strength and replacement cost more important than simple purchase price.

Guarantee reduces financial exposure

Tony Ricketts, Transport Manager at HD Ricketts, said the fleet does not suffer high damage levels, but the cover provides useful protection when failures occur.

“I don’t have that many damages, as our drivers and the tyres are good,” he said. “However, we do inevitably get some. When that happens, having Michelin’s accidental damage guarantee to fall back on is a relief. You don’t get that with other manufacturers, and instead you’re left to take the financial hit.”

Michelin says its accidental damage guarantee for X Works tyres covers accidental damage while the tyre is in use. The same guarantee is also available across the X Multi product family.

The report follows other recent Michelin fleet case studies covered by Tyre News. Welsh haulier JAGA Brothers said a Michelin X Multi tyre policy had cut monthly tyre spend by a third and reduced tyre-related breakdowns across its truck and trailer fleet.  Tyre News also reported that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council linked its Michelin tyre and telematics policy with reduced punctures, lower CO₂ output and improved fleet uptime.

New-generation X Works added to fleet

HD Ricketts has also started introducing the new-generation Michelin X Works 2 tyre to its tractor units. Michelin launched the X Works Z2 and D2 range across Europe for construction and waste-management fleets, with the range available from June 2025.

The new tyre generation is designed for operators working in mixed on- and off-road applications. Michelin says the range offers improved rolling resistance, extended tread life and increased load capacity compared with the previous generation.

For HD Ricketts, the move reflects a wider focus on whole-life tyre cost. The business was founded in 1964 by Dave Ricketts and remains family-run by Adrian Ricketts, Tony Ricketts and Ruth Ricketts. It supplies sand and gravel to the West Midlands construction sector, operates from a quarry in Sutton Coldfield, provides muck-away services and runs a bagging plant in Rugeley.

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The case highlights the commercial value of tyre support packages for operators working in construction supply, aggregates and site haulage. In these applications, a tyre’s role extends beyond tread life. Casing resilience, damage cover, service support and predictable replacement costs all contribute to vehicle availability.

For tyre dealers and fleet service providers, the story also points to the growing importance of risk-based tyre conversations. Mixed-service fleets need products that can survive site work without compromising road performance, while hauliers want clearer protection against avoidable downtime and unexpected tyre bills.

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Tagged with: Michelin X Works, HD Ricketts, truck tyres, construction haulage tyres, fleet uptime, accidental damage guarantee, mixed-service tyres, tipper fleet, Michelin X Works 2, commercial vehicle tyres

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