From the tires I've inspected, I don't feel like Panaracer isn't lagging behind other tire manufacturers in tech level at all. On the contrary, they seem to be better at making non-handmade tires than anyone else.
The corners the MFR has to cut to make price point seem to be the biggest defining characteristics of every tire except the very top-end. Once you're there, it's the tradeoffs between fast and tough, sticky and long-wearing.