The other reason Chinese engines benefit from a softer ring is that the cylinder bore is not perfectly round, as it is not "bored" after casting and before plating. The cylinder is cast around a mandrel, then plated, skipping the boring process altogether. Certainly less expensive, but it doesn't result in a perfectly round bore. A softer ring seats and seals faster to the slightly less-than-round bore than does a harder ring. DLE 55's can take 5 gallons or more to FULLY seat a stock ring.