A gasket (20, 20'), comprising: a first functional layer (22, 22') extending between a first edge surrounding a combustion chamber opening and a second edge, said first functional layer including a first full bead extending around said combustion chamber opening; a second functional layer (28, 28') extending between a third edge surrounding said combustion chamber opening and a fourth edge, said second functional layer including a second full bead axially aligned with said first full bead; a distance layer (74, 74') disposed between said first functional layer (22, 22') and said second functional layer (28, 28') and extending from a fifth edge axially aligned with said first edge and a sixth edge axially aligned with said second edge of said first functional layer; a first stopper extending along said first functional layer between said first edge and said first full bead; a second stopper (42, 42') extending along said second full bead of said second functional layer and including a third full bead; and said third full bead of second stopper and said second full bead of said second functional layer having matching contours, said first functional layer includes a first inner surface (50, 50') and said second functional layer includes a second inner surface (70, 70') facing said first inner surface, said first stopper extends along said first inner surface from a first stopper end axially aligned with said first edge to a second stopper end located between said first edge and said first full bead, and said first stopper extends circumferentially around said combustion chamber opening; characterized in that said first functional layer includes a half bead adjacent said second edge and said second functional layer includes a half bead adjacent said fourth edge, said half beads (62, 72) being axially aligned with one another and either extending inwardly toward one another or outwardly away from one another, said distance layer includes a stepped region located radially between said fifth edge and said full beads of said functional layers, such that a first portion of a first surface of the distance layer located between the fifth edge and the stepped region is farther from the first functional layer than a second portion of the distance layer located between the stepped region and the sixth edge. a first functional layer (22, 22') extending between a first edge surrounding a combustion chamber opening and a second edge, said first functional layer including a first full bead extending around said combustion chamber opening; a second functional layer (28, 28') extending between a third edge surrounding said combustion chamber opening and a fourth edge, said second functional layer including a second full bead axially aligned with said first full bead; a distance layer (74, 74') disposed between said first functional layer (22, 22') and said second functional layer (28, 28') and extending from a fifth edge axially aligned with said first edge and a sixth edge axially aligned with said second edge of said first functional layer; a first stopper extending along said first functional layer between said first edge and said first full bead; a second stopper (42, 42') extending along said second full bead of said second functional layer and including a third full bead; and said third full bead of second stopper and said second full bead of said second functional layer having matching contours, said first functional layer includes a first inner surface (50, 50') and said second functional layer includes a second inner surface (70, 70') facing said first inner surface, said first stopper extends along said first inner surface from a first stopper end axially aligned with said first edge to a second stopper end located between said first edge and said first full bead, and said first stopper extends circumferentially around said combustion chamber opening; said first functional layer includes a half bead adjacent said second edge and said second functional layer includes a half bead adjacent said fourth edge, said half beads (62, 72) being axially aligned with one another and either extending inwardly toward one another or outwardly away from one another, said distance layer includes a stepped region located radially between said fifth edge and said full beads of said functional layers, such that a first portion of a first surface of the distance layer located between the fifth edge and the stepped region is farther from the first functional layer than a second portion of the distance layer located between the stepped region and the sixth edge.