A measurement system scans the given surface of a tire component (e.g., a brush-finished tread or buffed tire casing) to electronically measure data points corresponding to vertical and horizontal coordinates along the given surface. Associated computer processors electronically calculate the slope at a plurality of different locations by determining the degree of steepness (e.g., rise over run, angle or grade) between selected ones of the first and second coordinates and electronically 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. Slope may be determined between every adjacent pair of data points or between selected data points (e.g., identified local maximum and minimum). The at least one-slope based parameter compared to the predetermined levels may correspond to the slopes themselves or to a calculated average slope value.