Upamanyu Biswas
Netflix’s ‘Tires‘ centers on a group of mechanics and managers at an auto-repair garage in Pennsylvania named Valley Forge Automotive Center, who constantly make life difficult for themselves owing to a series of misadventures and goofy antics. The workplace comedy series is mainly told through the eyes of the shop’s general manager, Will, and his trusted right-hand man, Shane, whose friendship is central to the narrative. However, another crucial element of the story is the store itself, grounding the whimsical and comedic elements of the project in a warm, cozy, and familiar environment. Eventually, it becomes intrinsically tied to the show’s overall vibe, bringing the characters, story, and atmosphere together in a unique blend that is pivotal to the comedy-drama.
The Real Life Valley Forge Automotive Center at the Heart of the Narrative
For the most part, Valley Forge Automotive Center in ‘Tires’ is a semi-fictional store crafted by the show’s creators, Steven Gerben, Shane Gillis, and John McKeever. The store is essentially where much of the Netflix series is based, using the whimsical plights of a dysfunctional workplace as its central conceit. While it may not exist precisely in reality, the production crew used a real-life store, Tires Etc, as a stand-in for the fictional auto-repair garage for both seasons 1 and 2. Situated at 640 East Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania, it is a full-service auto-repair garage that provides all the amenities advertised by Valley Forge. It is also likely that some scenes are recorded at Tires Plus, a tire shop at 500 East Gay Street. As such, the team utilized these establishments as a way to authentically represent the internal workings of the lives led by mechanics on a day-to-day basis.
Valley Forge Automotive Center forms the backbone of ‘Tires.’ The show employs its largely single-location story to significant effect, delving inside the shop’s corridors, halls, and lobbies, allowing the audience to feel a deeper sense of attachment to the setting. To that end, it parallels other comedy shows that have used workplaces as their primary backdrop, diving into office politics, peculiar work colleagues, and discriminatory practices as some of its themes. For instance, shows like ‘The Office,’ ‘Superstore,’ and ‘Blockbuster’ also take a similar approach to their amusing storylines, showcasing how a work environment is often conducive to the most outrageous types of comedy and hilarious gags. The Netflix show uses this to great effect throughout.
Narratively speaking, Valley Forge Automotive also becomes part of the main storyline, as its success as a business is often critical to the future of our beloved characters like Will and Shane. As some of its better workers, they must constantly battle against market forces to ensure the garage remains in business and does not creep into a territory of financial ruin. This is often the case throughout the show as running the garage becomes increasingly complex, with competitors looking to step up their game or undercut Valley Forge Automotive Center in some way or another. Additionally, it is interesting to note that the store is said to have a few branches elsewhere, indicating that it is a small but moderately successful brand. All of this contributes to a sense of reality, even though it largely operates in the realm of fiction.
Read More: 10 Funny Shows Like Tires You Must See
