A device for detecting the profile of a tread includes a light source, a mask configured for receiving a light emission of the light source and permeable to the light emission in correspondence of a slit provided therein. The slit is configured for generating, when traversed by the light emission, a light curtain. At least one image-acquisition device is configured for acquiring a projection of the light curtain on a tread, and a data-processing unit is operatively connected to the image-acquisition device for reception of image data acquired thereby.