A method for gas metal arc welding a first component formed of nitrided steel to a second component with reduced porosity in the weld is provided. A welding wire including a core surrounded by a tube is used to weld the components. The material of the core is formed of mild steel including 0.7 to 3.0 wt. % aluminum and 0.7 to 1.5 wt. % titanium. The material of the tube is formed entirely of low carbon steel. During the weld process, the nitrogen from the nitrided steel combines with the aluminum and titanium of the welding wire to form aluminum nitride and titanium nitride, instead of nitrogen bubbles which lead to high porosity. The method can be used to weld components used in automotive applications, for example to weld a ring gear and can of a flexplate, but alternatively could be used for another automotive or non-automotive applications.