What is new is good performing fatter tires. These didn't exist at all in the C&V days, unless you wanted to run touring sew-ups. The best 700x28 and 700x32 clinchers in the early to mid 80s were probably specialized touring II, and those were frankly pretty terrible. The 90s were better but only marginally so IMO. Nowadays I am amazed at the performance available from clinchers, and even more amazed that this performance is also available the fatter sizes: 28/32/35/38+

My Conti 4000II tires remind me quite a lot of my old criterium seta race wheels.