The garage doors of Valley Forge Automotive Center are officially back open for business, as Netflix’s no-holds-barred blue-collar workplace comedy, Tires, rolls out its highly anticipated second season. Co-created by and starring the comedic trio of Shane Gillis, Steve Gerben, and John McKeever, this sophomore season promises an even larger dose of the distinctive humor and genuinely chaotic workplace antics that first captivated audiences. Get ready for more unfiltered laughs and relatable mayhem as Will and Shane navigate the unpredictable world of auto repair.
The inaugural season of Tires introduced viewers to Will (Steve Gerben), the well-meaning but often out-of-his-depth “unqualified heir” to his family’s struggling auto repair chain, Valley Forge Automotive Center. His sincere efforts to breathe new life into the business were perpetually derailed by the relentless teasing and strategic undermining from his perpetually annoying cousin and now employee, Shane (Shane Gillis). This hilariously dysfunctional dynamic quickly cemented the series’ reputation as a refreshingly raunchy and authentic workplace comedy.
What’s New in Season 2
The second season of Tires arrives with significant upgrades, signaling Netflix’s increased investment and undeniable confidence in the series’ unique appeal and growing fanbase.
Expanded Scope and Production
Season 2 boasts a substantial increase in episodes, expanding beyond the first season’s concise six-episode run. This extended format is meticulously designed to facilitate deeper dives into the characters’ evolving storylines, allowing for richer plot development and more nuanced character exploration. A pivotal transformation for the series is its transition from a grassroots, self-funded passion project to one powerfully backed by Netflix’s considerable resources. The creators—Gillis, Gerben, and McKeever—initially poured their own funds into shooting the first season independently before successfully selling it to the streaming giant upon completion.
The series proudly continues its production under their “Dad Sick Productions” banner, with executive producers including Gillis, Gerben, McKeever, Brandon James for Rough House, and Brian Stern and Kenneth Slotnick for AGI Entertainment Media & Management, ensuring the show’s original vision remains intact.
Charting the Course
The new season seamlessly picks up precisely where the previous one left off at Valley Forge Automotive, plunging viewers back into Shane and Will’s often disastrous yet always entertaining efforts to expand the business. Whether it’s the ambitious pursuit of a second location, a questionable rebranding initiative, or simply surviving the ever-mounting chaos, their journey is fraught with comedic peril. Financial stress remains a pervasive theme, with episodes expected to sharply highlight “cash flow problems and unpaid bills,” the ever-present “employee retention challenges,” and the frequently murky “ethical dilemmas regarding repairs and pricing” that plague small businesses.
While Will has already emerged as the most developed and undeniably empathetic character, the second season is poised to delve even deeper into the backstories and personal struggles of other pivotal characters, notably Shane and Kilah (Kilah Fox), moving beyond their strictly defined roles within the confines of the repair shop.
Star Power Joins the Team
Season 2 introduces a significant new character with the exciting addition of Oscar-nominated actor Thomas Haden Church, who steps into the role of Phil. Phil is revealed to be Shane’s endearingly eccentric and perpetually clueless father, making him Will’s equally bewildering uncle, promising a fresh layer of family-driven absurdity.
Beyond Church’s notable presence, Season 2 features an impressive and hilarious roster of guest stars, including comedy heavyweights Vince Vaughn, Jon Lovitz, and Ron White. Fan-favorite Andrew Schulz returns, joined by a fresh wave of comedic talent including Veronika Slowikowska and Steph Tolev, further enriching the show’s already vibrant ensemble.
Enduring Authenticity
Despite the inevitable increase in budget and the exciting influx of celebrity talent, Season 2 remains steadfastly committed to “preserving that authenticity” that was the bedrock of its initial, breakout success. This unwavering dedication includes meticulously maintaining its quirky, often off-the-cuff tone, its signature semi-improvised feel, and its unapologetically crude sense of humor. The series continues to proudly embrace its distinct “Pennsylvania roots” and quintessential “Philly attitude,” with cast members like Kilah Fox effortlessly embodying the specific and uniquely local “language, dialect, and attitude” of the area, ensuring its grounded realism.
The Mechanics of Comedy: Returning Cast Dynamics
The enduring and undeniable appeal of Tires is profoundly rooted in the magnetic chemistry of its core cast. Shane Gillis as Shane and Steve Gerben as Will continue to be the beating heart of the series, their dynamic driving much of the show’s comedic engine. They are joined by a strong contingent of returning cast members: Chris O’Connor as Cal, Kilah Fox as Kilah, and Stavros Halkias as Dave, each contributing their unique brand of humor to the ensemble.
The central comedic dynamic relentlessly revolves around the “frenzy” ignited by the two cousins: Will, the “people-pleasing, perpetually confused, and confidence-lacking” manager of the perpetually struggling branch, and Shane, the “slacker cousin who brings barely disguised disdain and unbridled chaos,” consistently acting as a “perpetual thorn in Will’s side.” Their relationship remains a “combustible mix of simmering resentment, unwavering family loyalty, and hilariously consistent miscommunication.”
Supporting actors like Kilah Fox, who portrays a character sharing her own name, are absolutely crucial to the show’s distinct flavor. Fox masterfully stands out for her “attitude and indifference toward her job,” often doing “the bare minimum between smoke breaks and glaring pointedly at customers”—a role she embodies with the authentic, no-nonsense demeanor of a “true-blue Philly native.” Stavros Halkias as Dave, Will’s perpetually “beleaguered supervisor,” also continues to contribute significantly to the pervasive workplace absurdity, often serving as the exasperated voice of reason.
Many members of the cast share deep roots in the vibrant Eastern Pennsylvania comedy scene, a fact that undeniably contributes to the show’s “natural” feel and its remarkably “realistic reflections of working-class life.” The palpable chemistry between the leads and the robust ensemble of supporting characters is an undeniable key strength of the series. While the show primarily centers on the cousins’ dynamic, the consistent return of the main cast strongly suggests that the Valley Forge Automotive Center functions as a kind of wonderfully dysfunctional “found family,” bound by shared frustrations and absurdities.
Humor frequently erupts from their candid interactions and the “everyday absurdities of running a failing business with family,” making the mundane hilarious. This successful formula mirrors that of other beloved ensemble-focused sitcoms, where collective chemistry and individual character quirks are paramount to sustained appeal. The strategic introduction of Thomas Haden Church as Shane’s father directly impacts this established “found family” dynamic by injecting external biological family elements that will inevitably ripple through the existing workplace relationships, promising to add compelling new layers of conflict and, of course, abundant comedy.
Shane Gillis: A Comedian Who Connects with His Audience
At the very core of Tires’ unique and magnetic appeal lies Shane Gillis’ distinctive comedic style. His masterful portrayal of Shane, the quintessential “slacker cousin who brings barely disguised disdain and unbridled chaos,” is absolutely fundamental to the show’s signature humor. Gillis’ impeccable delivery, his precise pacing, his expertly timed comedic pauses, and his expressive facial reactions all coalesce to create the series’ utterly “unique feel” and its undeniable comedic rhythm.
Gillis’ comedy is consistently characterized as “raw and honest,” skillfully drawing on “observational humor” delivered with a compelling blend of “irreverence and profound relatability.” The show’s undeniable authenticity stems directly from its unflinching portrayal of “working-class America,” genuinely feeling “like a show made by people who have had real jobs and real frustrations.” This deeply ingrained blue-collar sensibility, profoundly rooted in the Philadelphia area, from which many of the creators and cast members hail, resonates powerfully and authentically with a broad audience.
The show’s “unfiltered” comedy, which boldly reflects Gillis’ fearless willingness to “tackle controversial topics” and his signature “unfiltered comedic lens,” has unequivocally cemented Tires as a “symbol of unfiltered comedy” for discerning Netflix subscribers, who clearly crave humor that doesn’t pull its punches.
Tires seamlessly fits within the esteemed lineage of successful workplace sitcoms, drawing favorable comparisons to beloved classics like The Office and Superstore, as well as contemporary hits such as Abbott Elementary and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Its keen focus on the “daily lives of shop employees dealing with customers and getting into scrapes” also thematically links it to Kevin Smith’s enduring cult classic Clerks. However, Tires fiercely maintains its distinctive identity by brilliantly combining “character-driven humor with the everyday challenges of running a struggling business” and a “rough-around-the-edges type of humor that isn’t for everyone.” The series stands as a modern, vital iteration of blue-collar comedy, expertly adapting its humor and themes for the contemporary streaming era. It triumphantly captures a significant segment of the audience actively seeking authentic, less sanitized portrayals of everyday working life, unequivocally demonstrating a strong and unmet demand for content that genuinely reflects the experiences and humor of this often-overlooked demographic in mainstream media.
Where to Watch “Tires”
