Fuel and lubricants distributor Linton Fuel Oils Ltd has seen the benefit of adopting Continental tyres for its vehicles, and is now close to fitting the premium brand across its entire fleet.

The London-based company has been in the oil distribution business for 40 years and runs a mixed fleet of nearly 40 tankers, driven by DAF, Mercedes and Scania tractor units. In addition, the company transports lubricants using eight curtainsiders.

“I’ve always required top brand tyres on our vehicles, and I’m very loyal to my supplier, as long as they can demonstrate that the product and service is good,” explains Graham Binstead, transport manager, Linton Fuel Oils. 


“At the end of last year, I did some research on Continental and I was impressed with the new technology that is available,” he recalls. “From that point, I started to specify all our new vehicles with Continental, and changed them over as and when they were needed on our existing fleet.”

Mr Binstead admits it is relatively early days to fully analyse the improvements made with the HSR2, HDR2 and HTR2 tyres, but he is keen to learn more about the wear rates and mileages achieved using the new Continentals. “From what I can see so far, the tyres are pretty hard-wearing as their technology allows them to run colder than other conventional tyres,” he states. “This means better wear and stability. A key benefit of the Continental tyres for us is their weight. As Continental tyres weigh less than most other brands this gives us a reduction in the overall weight of the truck, which allows me to get more product on board. That extra capacity was a big draw to Continental for me.”

Adding to the level of quality that Linton Fuel Oils strives for in every department, its vehicles carry the Royal Warrant, and Mr Binstead believes that suppliers such as Continental make a huge difference to the overall perception of the company. “Our commitment to safety and the service we provide, has helped us get, and keep, the Royal Warrant. Every component and especially tyres, help us to maintain high levels of safety, and therefore the Warrant itself.”

Mr Binstead is also quick to praise the backup from his supplier, Tyrework in Maidstone as well as his Continental contacts, and hopes that his relationship with them continues to grow. “As a major third-party company in the oil distribution industry, we like to see ourselves as a quality brand name and we like to see the same quality on our vehicles.”