I just installed a set of Avon Cobras out in the garage tonight and found they don't mark the heavy part of the tire. I have all my rims marked inside where the heaviest and lightest spots are so I know where to put the heavy part of the the tire (ie the lightest spot of the rim). So when you mount Avons (the Cobras at least) you'll need to put them back on the balance stand and move the tire around before seating the bead to minimize the amount of weight needed. Not a deal breaker if they turn out to be good tires (I want grip over wear) but it was the first time I ever ran into that.

 

That's a good idea if you static balance. I have a stand but don't use it much anymore. I've just been dumping Ride On in my last 3 Cobra sets.. Seems pretty smooth so far.

 

Just an FYI, Dunlop says to put balance dot at the valve. Other brands may be different.

 

You'll like the Avons particularly on wet roads, never had one break loose unless I tried to do it.

 

Yes, the valve stem part of the rim is often referenced as the lightest spot. I check every wheel for the actual light spot and mark it; it's almost never the valve stem on Harley cast wheels. The dot on tires indicates the heaviest part of the tire so to minimize the amount of weight used to balance it the tire spot should be aligned with the light spot on the rim. At some point, I may come into the 20th century and use some internal balancing like Ride On or Dyna beads, maybe when I run out of wheel weights

 

My latest Cobra front didn't need to be balanced. First time I recall coming across a tyre like that, but the shop who fitted it commented that tyres are getting better these days and mine wasn't the first.

As for weights, I find they still work fine!