is provided with an annular groove shaped recess 11 defined by a step which cuts radially inwardly into the second land and a tapered flat surface 12 in cross section the annular recess 11 is formed in the second land 10 without reaching an upper end face and a lower end face fig5 illustrates a fourth embodiment which is similar to that of fig4 but including a circular arc portion 12 39 in place of the step in fig4 fig6 illustrates a fifth embodiment wherein the tapered flat surface 12 in cross section extends down to an outer edge of the upper wall of the second ring groove 6 fig7 illustrates a sixth embodiment wherein the annular recess 11 is defined by a combination of the tapered flat surface 12 and an axial flat surface 12 34 in cross section refer to fig4 again the dimension of the height of the top land 8 is less than 1 20 of a dimension of an inner diameter of the cylinder 9 the top pressure ring 2 for use in a high top ring piston can be used which has a dimension of thin width as a result the inertia force of the top pressure ring 2 can be made smaller the effects obtained according to the embodiments as shown in fig4 7 are the same the tests are conducted by using a gasoline engine 2000 cc having cylinder dimensions of u03c686 mm and a top land height of 3 mm the top ring dimension is 0 8 mm in width for the embodiment as shown in fig4 and 1 2 mm in width for a conventional piston which has no recess formed in the second land the oil.