Tyre Pressures - Seeking Forum Opinions

[whitenemesis]

On a recent business trip to Germany I got talking Mercs with my driver (his day job is police pursuit driver) and he recommended having ones tyres inflated to the max suggested in the car's manual (i.e. fully loaded, max speed) for best handling performance.
Apart from any comfort concerns, what's the thoughts on tyre wear? Would this be accelerated in the centre section of the tread? What about wet weather handling?

 

[television]

The max inflation gives the best high speed handling, a lower pressure gives a more sedate ride and wide tyres will wear a little better in the center.

Malcolm