[Steeveedee]

The reason for the factory timing settings being conservative is to save the engine for the warranty period. Part of that consideration is that the manufacturer has to plan for inferior fuel which may have a low enough octane rating that detonation would occur. Advancing the timing may be OK, if the rest of the system is held so that any potential detonation doesn't destroy any pistons.

Just because you don't hear the ping doesn't mean that your engine isn't experiencing detonation effects.