Tire configuration judging device and tire classifying method using the same

A tire configuration judging device, comprising:

• light irradiating means which irradiates slit light onto a predetermined range of a tire surface, whose configuration is to be detected, of a tire;
• photographing means which is disposed at a predetermined position corresponding to said light irradiating means and which photographs a slit image formed on the tire surface by irradiation of the slit light by said light irradiating means;
• configuration detecting means which detects the configuration of the tire surface whose configuration is to be detected, on the basis of the slit image which is photographed by said photographing means;
• comparing means which compares the configuration which is detected by said configuration detecting means to a predetermined reference configuration;
• and
• judging means which judges the quality of the tire on the basis of the results of the comparison by said comparing means.