Apparatus and method for checking tyres in a tyre production line. The apparatus includes a support frame for mounting the tyre, a flange for attaching the support frame to a movement member, and an acquisition system for acquiring digital images of a surface of the tyre. The acquisition system includes a linear camera and an illumination system for illuminating an objective line of the camera. The illumination system includes a light source and an optical lens system having a second optical axis. The optical lens system includes first and second converging lenses arranged on the side opposite the light source with respect to the first lens so that the light source, the first lens and the second lens are coaxial with the second optical axis.