The first season of Tires is now streaming on Netflix.
By Greg Wheeler
Workplace comedies are a staple of television history. While many credit the UK version of The Office for popularizing the genre, earlier examples like Taxi and Cheers also paved the way. Among these is the British series On The Buses, a fondly remembered yet politically incorrect comedy about life at a bus company. Netflix’s new sitcom Tires, written by and starring stand-up comedian Shane Gillis, seems to draw inspiration from these older, cringeworthy shows. The characters in Tires are far from PC, exhibiting sexist, racist, and homophobic behaviors that many might find offensive.
The show is set in an auto repair chain managed by Will (Steve Gerben), who has been given the position by his father. Will is inept at his job—illustrated in the first episode when he mistakenly orders hundreds of tires—but he genuinely tries his best. In contrast, his cousin Shane (Shane Gillis) works at the shop and constantly bullies Will with relentless pranks.
The other employees at the repair shop include Kilah (Kilah Fox), a snarky and lazy receptionist, and Cal (Chris O’Connor), a rather bland character who appears to be the only competent worker. However, these characters rarely leave a lasting impression.
The series’ six episodes follow Will’s futile attempts to revive the failing business, with most of his plans backfiring spectacularly. In one episode, he organizes a bikini car wash to boost sales, only for Shane to hide the scantily clad women in a shipping container to avoid detection by a district manager.
The humor in Tires often recalls the crude, boundary-pushing comedy of Carry On films and 70s sitcoms. The writing frequently veers into tasteless territory, with offensive stereotypes and sexual references. For example, Jewish characters are mocked for having big noses, Italians are referred to with a slur, and Shane mimics a Japanese person by slanting his eyes.
It’s unclear whether these attitudes reflect Gillis’s personal views—he was previously fired from Saturday Night Live for making offensive remarks—or if he is satirizing the ignorance of certain men in male-dominated industries. Regardless, the attempt to be edgy and controversial may not resonate with viewers who prefer more sophisticated humor.
While some scenarios in the show have comic potential, they are often undermined by the crassness of the lead characters and the lack of clever writing. Fans of Gillis might find more to enjoy, but those who are weary of sexist and offensive humor will likely want to skip Tires altogether.
I give Tires a D.
TV and City 