The original caps were a bit more flexible, but then fell out over time. These caps are usually made out of hard and cheap plastic. I actually broke a couple of them by pressing them in place because they were so tight. With this, the puller pulls them out easily when you need to remove the wheels. For this reason I advise you to remove them before leaving your car in a tire shop or when working behind the wheel. This way you don't have to buy another set.