I don't know about the steel wheels, but mine were held in place only by the plastic tabs....which will break after repeated removal and installation. The reason I had to remove the covers is because they were so tight against the stock lug nuts that I couldn't fit a socket over them. What I finally wound up doing was cutting the backside of the socket holes with a dremel tool. I cut enough off so it still looked stock, but allowed a socket to fit over the lug nut. Then you can leave the wheel covers on for brake jobs, painting calipers, ect. However, if you're replaceing a tire, the covers will have to come off.