We need to renovate the stairway of our home - 2 Family, we're upstairs...

It's a long narrow stairway (17 steps up) and right now it's BLAH...and has carpet.

Under the carpet is:
1)old-azz (probably molded) red vinyl
2) older-azz linoleum
3) oldest-azz wood

We're discussing our options, and getting threads is just not in the budget right now.

So, we're trying to decide between:

1) Linoleum
2) Tiles

Which would you recommend? Keep in mind that a few years down the line we plan on converting the whole house into a one-family and will get a brand new circular stairway, knocking out the hallway wall.