Following what vendor website says is usually not the best idea.

I don't recall any site saying a 160 thermostat is needed for mild mods or no mods.

Only if you are hot lapping the car at a track is a 160 perhaps needed. The stock knock sensor settings dont turn them on till 160ยบ, though you have a tuned PCM, they may still be the same.

A 180 is what you swap in as the car would prefer those temps better.