He Thought His Audi Looked Great… Until His Discount Tire Coworkers Spoke Up

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When you land a gig at a place that literally sells tires, you’d think your car’s rubber would be in great shape. Right? That was the assumption made by newly hired Discount Tire employee and self-described car fan Jaeden Mais. His first few days on the job were going smoothly until one coworker spotted his Audi parked out front. What followed was equal parts hilarious and humbling.

Mais told the story in a video that raced across social media like a runaway tire, beginning with the coworker’s casual question: “Is that your Audi outside?” Mais, expecting admiration, nodded proudly. Instead of a compliment, the coworker delivered a blunt observation about the car’s bald tires that would sting any car lover. “Yo, your tires are bald as [expletive],” was the unfiltered assessment. Ouch.

It was a moment that many gearheads have probably lived but rarely admit out loud. In another twist few expected, Mais didn’t just shrug it off. He instead embraced a silver lining that only a Discount Tire employee could truly appreciate: employee discounts on tires. And from the sounds of things, those discounts aren’t chump change.

Discount Tire doesn’t hide the fact it offers its workers perks beyond a paycheck. The company’s own careers page lists benefits that include health coverage, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and yes, discounts on tires, wheels, and accessories. Some locations even extend certain perks to employees’ families.

But when it comes to exactly how much employees save on tires, details get colorful once you leave the official script. On Reddit and other discussion forums, current and former workers reported discounts in the ballpark of 30 percent off retail prices. Some folks added that rebates from tire manufacturers can effectively raise savings even more, sometimes up to an eye-popping 50 percent on some brands. That means a $3,000 set of wheels and tires could realistically cost someone on the inside about $2,200 after rebates.

A few commenters didn’t hold back sharing their hard-earned tips. One veteran employee advised new hires to wait 90 days before using their discount to get bigger rebates. Another enthusiastically recommended specific brands that tend to have generous return offers. And Mais? He seemed genuinely thrilled at the idea of slashing tire bills in half.

Of course, not every response was pure cheerleading. Some former workers jokingly warned of what they called the “Discount Tire depression,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to how tough working life can be despite the perks. Others said take the benefits with a grain of salt and enjoy them while learning the ropes and making connections. @jaeden.mais Employee discount gonna clutch #cars#audi#a4#s4#discounttire♬ Classic classical gymnopedie solo piano(1034554) - Lyrebirds music  

That mixture of experience makes sense given what Discount Tire itself says about its culture. The company touts a promotion-from-within philosophy where every store manager began their career at the bottom and worked up, and an emphasis on employee support through things like scholarship opportunities and assistance funds for tough times.

This whole scenario highlights an odd truth about working around the thing you love. On the surface, Mais’ story is about a guy whose new coworkers called him out for poor tire tread. When you dig deeper, it’s also about the strange perks and social rituals that come with being inside a business that literally keeps people rolling. Learning about tire discounts might not be revolutionary news, but for anyone who has ever stood in a parking lot and hoped their wallet could take the pressure, this little slice of life hits in all the right spots.