[Christ]

A single lug not centered creates unevenly distributed forces. Chances are, it would not hold even as much as two lugs, spaced from center evenly, half each of the original size.

Three is the minimum for a concentric pattern.

In order for the three lug pattern to be as potentially strong as a similarly spaced 4 lug pattern, the lugs themselves would need to be stronger. Not the wheel, just the studs. Possibly the nuts, too. I doubt its much of an issue, though, when you consider that the studs from my 1988 HONDA CIVIC were the same diameter/grade used in some light trucks (F series? Don't remember what I put them in, bit they fit perfectly, if not a tad short).

Frankly, spacing the 3 lugs further apart can actually make them capable of holding more than a tight 4 lug pattern could, just on the degraded mechanical advantage that the wheel would have over the studs with a wider pattern.