Should I stick to the set tyre pressure?

It has been generally held that running slightly higher tyre pressures than those recommended by the carmakers improves braking, handling and fuel consumption, while reducing ride comfort. There is some truth in all of that, but remember that whatever pressure you settle on it will be a compromise, and that is the same compromise that carmakers wrestle with in determining their recommendations. Instructors at high-performance driving schools strongly advocate higher tyre pressures for the handling benefits they deliver, and that works for a racetrack environment, but it's not optimum for a road environment where your tyres have to perform several important functions. The belief in the tyre business now is that drivers should follow the carmakers' recommendations for the best all-round tyre performance.