16,000 miles for a set of tyres is on the lower side of what is reasonable but it is not out of the question for a set to wear out this quickly, more so for a front-wheel-drive car. We would not advise using a nine-year-old tyre as it is near the end of its lifespan. Choosing new tyres to fit is a matter of balancing budget versus quality, but we would advise fitting the best tyres you can afford. We would also suggest having an alignment carried out when fitting new tyres and ensuring tyre pressures are checked on a regular basis.