Tire Bead problems of the 2007 Toyota Matrix

Have a 2007 Toyota Matrix--was less than one year old and had approx 17000 miles. Notice the tire looked low on air one day--removed the tire to check for nails or damage and found no--so took the tire to a garage and they put the tire in a water bath and found a leak on the side wall--I tool the goodyear eagle tire to a good year dealer--as that was the original tire on the car--they would not replace the tire--so decided to buy a new set of michelins. When the goodyear tire was removed from the rim the mechanic showed it to me and the bead on the side wall--about that is in the vicinity where the sidewall and tread are joined was severely cracked--he said it was a blow out waiting to happen and definite defective tire for less than a year old vehicle and only 17,000 miles.