Never attempt a s/w repair on a passenger tire.
The true cause of failure often requires the tire to be dismounted and inspected from the inside.
Not a defect for sure.
A damaged tire.A pin hole is much different than a broken cord.
A pin hole can be repaired with a special glue for the liner which is the actual air bladder/tube portion of the tire.
Made of impermeable rubber to hold air. the cord holds the load.
Broken s/w cord= junk tire.
Low profile( short sidewall) tires are very prone ot impact breaks. Just run over any thing like a pot hole, train tracks etc.. at too high of a speed or too low of an air pressure and the s/w will get pinched for a miilesecond between the rim and tire.