An inspection apparatus for inspecting the side of a tire having molded characters, which constitute a character string with protrusions and recesses molded on the side of the tire and judging acceptability of side of the tire to be inspected, the apparatus comprising matching means for matching a model pattern of a character of a character string on a side of a conforming tire representing conforming shape data against an image captured by a tire imaging unit of an appearance of the side of the tire to be inspected, the matching means comprising: a model pattern positioning means for positioning the model pattern in a position with a highest degree of agreement by matching the model pattern against the image captured; a model pattern dividing means for dividing the model pattern into 2 X 2 elements (M1 - M4) in equal size in such a manner as to have mutually overlapping regions, and the model pattern into 3 X 3 elements (N1 -N9) in equal size in such a manner as to have mutually overlapping regions; and a shape recognition means for recognizing a shape of a character corresponding to the model pattern in the image, the shape recognition means comprising element positioning means for positioning each of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9) divided by the model pattern dividing means in a position with a highest degree of agreement by performing pattern matching by deforming, using element deforming means with which the shape recognition means is provided, each of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9) within a predetermined range with reference to the position where the model pattern has been positioned on the image, by superposing the shape recognized in the 2 × 2 elements (M1 - M4) on the shape recognized in the 3 × 3 elements (N1-N9), and by recognizing the superposed portions as the shape corresponding to the model pattern M, wherein the element deforming means is for carrying out deformation of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9), selected from scaling deformation, rotational deformation, and shear deformation, and for repeating the deformation of the elements by performing pattern matching against the image until the shape reaches a highest degree of agreement. a model pattern positioning means for positioning the model pattern in a position with a highest degree of agreement by matching the model pattern against the image captured; a model pattern dividing means for dividing the model pattern into 2 X 2 elements (M1 - M4) in equal size in such a manner as to have mutually overlapping regions, and the model pattern into 3 X 3 elements (N1 -N9) in equal size in such a manner as to have mutually overlapping regions; and a shape recognition means for recognizing a shape of a character corresponding to the model pattern in the image, the shape recognition means comprising element positioning means for positioning each of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9) divided by the model pattern dividing means in a position with a highest degree of agreement by performing pattern matching by deforming, using element deforming means with which the shape recognition means is provided, each of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9) within a predetermined range with reference to the position where the model pattern has been positioned on the image, by superposing the shape recognized in the 2 × 2 elements (M1 - M4) on the shape recognized in the 3 × 3 elements (N1-N9), and by recognizing the superposed portions as the shape corresponding to the model pattern M, wherein the element deforming means is for carrying out deformation of the elements (M1 - M4, N1-N9), selected from scaling deformation, rotational deformation, and shear deformation, and for repeating the deformation of the elements by performing pattern matching against the image until the shape reaches a highest degree of agreement.