Optical spot scanning of the condition of a tyre of a vehicle wheel (with wheel balancing machine)

The method involves emitting a light beam onto a surface of a pneumatic tire (10). A receiver (12) produces position signals based on an impingement point of a reflected beam. Rotary angle signals representing rotational angle of a wheel are supplied to an evaluation device. Dimensions and positions of the pneumatic tire or its constituent parts are determined based on the positional signals and the rotary angle signals. An independent claim is also included for an apparatus for optically scanning a pneumatic tire of a vehicle wheel.