System and method for evaluating surface finish of tire retread

A measurement system for evaluating surface variations of a tire component, comprising:

• a measuring instrument for scanning the given surface of the tire component and measuring data points respectively comprising at least first and second coordinates corresponding to vertical and horizontal position of the given surface, the tire component comprising a brushed finished surface or a buffed tire casing;
• a first memory adapted for storing the data points determined by said measuring instrument;
• a second memory adapted for storing software in the form of computer-executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to said first and second memories and configured to selectively implement the computer-executable instructions stored in the second memory to process the data points stored in the first memory;
• wherein said at least one processor implements the computer-executable instructions stored in said second memory in order to implement the functions of:
• calculating the slope at a plurality of different locations along the given surface of the tire component by determining the degree of steepness between selected ones of the first and second coordinates measured along the given surface of the tire component;
• and comparing at least one slope-based parameter to one or more predetermined levels to determine a characterization defining one or more of surface adhesion fitness, finishing brush wear level and brush bristle placement location.