Netflix fans rush to binge ‘must-see’ series after huge Rotten Tomatoes boost

When the first season of Netflix’s workplace comedy Tires arrived last year, the raunchy tone and divisive lead Shane Gillis clearly weren’t for everyone.

In fact, it wasn’t for a lot of people. The show only scored a 40 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the equivalent of the unwanted green splat –and if it hadn’t been renewed before its release, you have to wonder whether Netflix would have brought the show back at all.

But now the second season has arrived on the streaming platform and brought with it considerable improvements on the first season – so much so the new episodes currently hold a 80 percent rating on the Tomatometer. Big gains.

Made on a shoestring budget compared to other recent Netflix releases like Fubar or Sirens, Tires sees Gillis play a fictionalised version of himself (also called Shane), who inherits his father’s Pennsylvania chain of tire shops.

For fans of The Bear, it’s a premise that might sound familiar, with two cousins at the reins. There’s wayward manager Will (co-creator Steven Gerben) and firebrand Shane (Shane Gillis), who run through a series of harebrained schemes to try and keep the business afloat.

The show was a self-funded passion project for Gillis, who was fired from Saturday Night Live – before he had even started on the sketch comedy show – for using a racist slur and making offensive jokes on his podcast.

Gillis made the sitcom pilot for his YouTube channel in 2019, before he invested in filming a full, six-episode season, which Netflix then acquired.

While the first season was met with a muted response from critics, the second is already receiving plaudits for a more tasteful level of comedy and feel-good experience, blended with great cast additions and more full-bodied episode arcs.

The show has been dipping in and out of the Netflix ranking of its top 10 TV, with many fans taking to X to praise the storytelling gains Tires has made for its sophomore outing.

@thejollywodger labelled the new season of the show ‘sensational’, while @Jaspg wrote: ‘I’m only three episodes in on season two of Tires and it’s better than season one.’

‘Tires went from watchable to a must-see in season 2,’ wrote @HollywoodInToto.

Elsewhere on the social media platform, @GamerRickMMA had incredibly high praise. They wrote: ‘Just binge watched all of Tires season 2 and I’ve got to say it’s one of.. if not the best comedy series I’ve ever watched. 

‘I’m not usually a fan of American comedy as it’s kinda corny but this is comedy gold. Shane Gillis, when you releasing season 3?’

@N_asty25 echoed: ‘Shane Gillis’ Tires needs to take a page out of Letterkenny’s book and pump out a season every year at the minimum. 

‘This is legit gold. Steve Gerben’s acting (which I’m guessing is mostly improv) has improved dramatically from season 1 to 2. Season 2 gets a 9.1/10 from me.’

Tires seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix.

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