Metal gasket with peripheral bead

A metal gasket for an internal combustion engine, said engine having at least one cylinder bore, bolt holes situated around the cylinder bore and fluid holes, said gasket comprising:

• a first metal plate extending substantially throughout an entire area of the gasket to constitute a metal gasket and having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side,
• at least one first hole constituting the at least one cylinder bore and situated in the first metal plate to thereby provide an imaginary line extending through a center of the at least one first hole between the first and second sides, said at least one first hole being located closer to the first side than to the second side to thereby form a first area between the first side and the imaginary line, and a second area greater than the first area between the second side and the imaginary line,
• second holes constituting the bolt holes and situated in the first metal plate around the at least one first hole, and
• a first bead formed in the first metal plate and extending along an entire outer periphery of the first metal plate, said first bead having a first portion located near the first side and a second portion located near the second side, said first portion having a spring constant greater than that at the second portion to thereby provide a tightening pressure on the first metal plate as equal as possible.